Rockaway Times 3-23-23

Communities

Urban Planner Says Hochul’s Housing Plan

Could End Rockaway as We Know It

Neponsit Home Faces the Wrecking Ball

By Katie McFadden

After 25 years of sitting empty, the old Neponsit Home is coming down. The former tuberculosis hospital turned care home near Beach 149th was closed in 1998, and last week, it started facing the wrecking ball. Cranes were spotted demolishing one of the buildings, piece by piece, as the physical demolition process begins.

The decision to demolish the old hospital came in 2021, after the city realized it was beyond saving and was becoming a hazard. And in September 2022, the process to demolish the property began with preliminary work before the physical demolition. “NYC Health + Hospitals (HHC) is committed to making the demolition of the former Neponsit hospital as unobtrusive as possible for local residents and beachgoers,” a spokesperson for HHC, which currently oversees the property said.

According to HHC, over the last few months, they took several steps to make sure the demolition is done safely. They surveyed homeowners’ property and installed vibration monitors to ensure that no property damage occurs, or in the event that it does, they can rectify it. They removed asbestos in a controlled and contained manner, with the proper environmental controls and monitors to ensure public safety.  They ensured proper dust control measures were in place to minimize any dust from any of the activities. This included watering of materials, equipment, and monitors to measure parts per million requirements or better. HHC says to date, they have had no high-level readings

or complaints. They ensured rodent control measures were in place in the event there were issues, which they say they didn’t encounter. They conducted noise mitigation, including sound absorption treatment on the east construction fencing adjacent to neighboring houses. They conducted extensive community outreach to inform stakeholders, homeowners, beach goers, and elected officials about the project, including sending out a monthly newsletter. And, after fish were found living in the building’s flooded basement, they worked with NYC Fish Rescue to save the fish before the demolition.

This all readied the building for demolition, which began on March 13. So far, HHC says it’s made good progress, with the easternmost building almost completely demolished down to the base level. Demolition will continue during weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., while noise-generating activities are conducted on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. HHC hopes to complete major demolition before the 2023 beach season begins.

A covenant in the deed for the property says it must be used as a healthcare facility or be returned to parkland. Once demolished, the property will be turned over to NYC Parks. The current plan is to make it a passive park, while a northwest corner of the property will be used for a lifeguard facility and parking lot for the lifeguard staff. Other plans for what will be included in the park will be up for discussion at future meetings.

Photos by James Supple.

Jill Lauri Honored As Local Business Person Of The Year

Alignable, the largest online referral network for small businesses, has announced the results of its annual national search for leaders who have gone above and beyond guiding peers and supporting communities as many small businesses continue to combat economic challenges.

Alignable’s network of 7.8 million small business owners has chosen Jill Lauri as Rockaway Beach’s 2023 Business Person Of The Year.

Jill Lauri is a professional Animal Communicator and Coach. She communicates telepathically with all species and those who have passed. Jill coaches animal lovers on stress, transition, transformation, and loss. She guides people through emotional challenges with their pets and helps distraught animal lovers face illness, aging, and grief.

"My Board of Directors... (the

Animal Kingdom) and I thank you for this acknowledgment,” Lauri said. “Rockaway is a community with a rich diversity of cultures and wildlife. Your support honors us and howls out that the voices of both human and nonhuman animals matter.”

You can learn more about Jill’s work at https://HealingWithAnimals.com and contact her at Jill@ HealingWithAnimals.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023

Contact The Elected

Congressman Gregory Meeks

67-12 Rockaway Beach Boulevard

Arverne, NY 11692

Phone: (347) 230-4032

Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato 9516 Rockaway Beach Blvd Rockaway Beach, NY 11693

Email: amatos@nyassembly.gov 718-945-9550

City Councilwoman

Selvena Brooks-Powers

1931 Mott Avenue, Suite 410

Far Rockaway, NY 11691 • 718-471-7014

City Councilwoman Joann Ariola

114-12 Beach Channel Drive, suite #1 Rockaway Park, NY 11694

Email: joannariola32@gmail.com 718-318-6411

State Senator James Sanders Jr.

1931 Mott Avenue – Suite 305 Far Rockaway, NY 11691

Email: sanders@nysenate.gov 718-327-7017

Assemblyman Khaleel Anderson

19-31 Mott Avenue, Suite 301 Far Rockaway, NY 11691

Email: Andersonk@nyassembly.gov 718-327-1845

Jeanne Ferriola and Sean McVeigh PUBLISHER

Katie McFadden MANAGING EDITOR

Mary Ellen Olsen MANAGER

Monica Clifford BILLING/ LEGALS

Tom McVeigh and Fred Marino SALES

Kevin Boyle FOUNDER/PUBLISHER EMERITUS

The Rockaway Times

114-04 Beach Channel Drive Rockaway Park, NY 11694

Phone: 718-634-3030

www.rockawaytimes.com

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

THE ROCKAWAY TIMES is published every Thursday by Double Nickel LLC (USPS # 16930), 114-04 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Park, NY 11694. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Rockaway Times, 114-04 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Park, NY 11694. Periodical postage paid at Rockaway Park Post Office, 11694.

Ad space reservations by Monday, 12 noon, preceding date of subject. Editorial submission must be made by Monday, 3 P.M., preceding date of publication. All letters to THE ROCKAWAY TIMES should be brief and are sub– ject to editing. Writers should include a full address and home office telephone number. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without permission of THE ROCKAWAY TIMES. The publisher will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to THE ROCKAWAY TIMES within five days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication.

THE ROCKAWAY TIMES assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold THE ROCKAWAY TIMES and its employees harmless from all costs, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement. © 2015 Double Nickel LLC.

Ariola Stocks Community Fridge

In response to growing levels of food insecurity in Queens, Councilwoman Joann Ariola delivered food to the community refrigerator on Beach 92nd Street in Rockaway Beach on March 17, and pledged more to follow.

“There are a lot of people in Rockaway and all throughout the borough who are facing food insecurity – a problem enhanced by growing inflation and stagnant wages,” Councilwoman Ariola said. “My office sponsors a regular hot food distribution at St. Rose of Lima Church, but after speaking with some local constituents we realized there was more we could do to help those who might not be able to make it to those distributions. To that end, we partnered with the Met Council NYC to receive packages of dry food and other goods and stocked the fridge and the nearby shelves.”

“Nobody should go hungry,” Councilwoman Ariola added, “and I intend to work hard to make sure that no families in District 32 are forced to skip their meals due to food insecurity.”

In addition to the goods delivered last week, the Councilwoman is also arranging for fresh produce to be delivered to the location as well.

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

McVeighing In Uber Nice

By Sean McVeigh

New York has made me hard. This applies broadly to life but also very specifically to the taxi industry. I have known nothing else but the New York Uber driver (or, if you prefer, the endangered species: yellow cab driver) and their stoic and aloof ways. I want to be clear—this is not meant to be a slight. No one is clamoring for chattier taxi drivers. Outside of New York, a lot changes. People, in general, are nicer. But when it comes to the taxis, there is a certain coldness that is not

only expected, but appreciated, regardless of where you are. Maybe I am a snob, a giant jerk, but when I get into an Uber, I have certain expectations. Chief among them: silence. Usually that is not hard to come by. Around here, there is an unwritten rule, a mutual agreement. You exchange meaningless pleasantries and then there is silence until you come to your destination. Upon arrival, meaningless pleasantries are re-exchanged, and you both go on

your merry way. Outside of New York, that is not the case. The case seems to be quite the opposite. It is as if you are expected to have a conversation. Not just a quick “get to know you,” but a full blown colloguy for the entire ride. On a recent trip, having fallen prey to this on some previous occasions, I was prepared. I was going to beat the system. It was an early morning after a late night and it is fair to say that I was not running at 100%. The last thing I wanted was to have the same conversation that I have had hundreds of times before. The way I saw it, there were two important steps that needed to be taken if I was going to attempt the impossible. Step one: headphones were in. There wasn’t even anything playing but I needed to not only sound like I didn’t want to chit chat, I needed to look it. I even went so far as to do the old “pull one out when I am getting in and pretend like

that is the only way I can hear them.” I wanted the message to be that once that headphone was back in, our conversation was over. Step two: My head was buried in my phone. I don’t care how beautiful the scenery was around me, and I will never know if it was or not, because I wanted a quiet ride and I was fully committed. Even with the necessary precautions being taken, it was a failure. I don’t know how they do it to be honest with you. They should host a late-night show because these guys have questions locked and loaded ready to drag your life story out of you whether you like it or not. You respond with short answers, filled with as much substance as a bag of chips. You’re not mean, but you are certainly not reciprocating the same level of enthusiasm that they are. Nevertheless, they keep at it. Maybe I am the bad guy here, but this is the way I have lived my life up until now and you can’t change me! Right?

Continued on page 6

St. Francis de Sales Parish

UBER NICE

Continued from Page 5

After the fifth or sixth prying question, something happens. They start to win. They ask about NY and how you’re enjoying your trip and what you have planned for the day, for the week, for your life. Many times, they have a few unsolicited recommendations for you. You’ve told them this isn’t your first time around here, but they don’t care. “Check out this festival” and “be sure to stop at X restaurant while you’re here.” And you know what? A lot of the time it is a great recommendation. You start to give in and something remarkable occurs... You ask them questions back, “You always live around here?” (Who am I?! What’s happening to me?!) And that is all they need. They have sensed the crack in your defenses and do not hesitate to strike.

By the end of the ride, you are waving the white flag of defeat. Robert with 4.99 stars is your best friend. You want to invite them

in to share a drink. You tell them to say hi to their wife and kids for you and hopefully you’ll see them around town. You are a different person than when you entered that cab. You fly home to New York, and you get into your Uber outside JFK. After 20 seconds, all of that goodness is washed away. You are back to your normal self. A yellow cab cuts your Uber driver off and you both flip them the bird in unison. Not a word is spoken, but it is a beautiful moment.

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH?

Easter Blessings!

‘An Existential Threat to Our Communities’ Urban Planner Lays Out Hochul’s Housing Plan

By Katie McFadden

“This is an existential threat to our communities,” urban planning expert Paul Graziano, who specializes in zoning, said at Tuesday’s Belle Harbor Property Owners Association (BHPOA) meeting. The threat he is referring to is Governor Kathy Hochul’s “Housing Compact” plan “to build more housing and make New York more affordable for all.” It is a plan that Hochul has slipped into the fiscal year 2024 state budget, that is currently being negotiated on through March 31. And according to Graziano, if it passes, it could be the end of single-family home neighborhoods like Rockaway.

According to the NY.gov website, the New York Housing Compact is a “multifaceted approach to address New York’s historic housing shortage and build 800,000 new homes over the next decade. The New York Housing Compact will encourage growth by removing barriers to housing production, incentivizing new construction, and setting local housing targets across every New York community.” While aspects of it may sound good on paper, Graziano warned that it would fundamentally change the few neighborhoods in New York City that have single family homes, with only 15% of the city being zoned for single family homes as is.

Graziano recapped some events that led up to this proposal, such as a similar city proposal made in 2020 by former City Council speaker Corey Johnson. When that plan was in discussions, Graziano appeared before Community Board 14 and other community boards and civic associations across NYC to warn about that “Planning Together” housing plan. “As a planner, when I hear stuff like this, I get suspicious. Whenever something is touchy feely and about working together, it sounds great, but lollipops and puppy dogs don’t work in real estate,” Graziano said. The plan, which would

essentially eliminate the current Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) process and create cycles of development, received heavy pushback and during the February 2021 Zoom hearing on the matter, Graziano said Johnson got defensive and removed himself from the meeting before the public could comment. “It died right there,” Graziano said.

But then, a similar plan arose in the state when Kathy Hochul first became governor after Andrew Cuomo resigned in 2021. “In her first State of the State in January 2022, Hochul said these words—'we’re going to fix outdated land use laws that are holding back housing supply.’ She wanted to eliminate single family zoning across the entire state of NY,” Graziano said. He explained Home Rule, in which NY state guarantees that localities like city councils and mayors have equal status to the government of the state so the state cannot trample the rights of localities and how Hochul wanted to eliminate this. “Her plan was that every single-family zone would allow accessory dwelling units on every property across NY, so basements, attics, converted garages, new houses behind houses, etc. This is a nationwide push by big real estate interests,” he said. “Number two was amnesty for all illegal conversions in NYC. It is the scourge of many of our communities and the last decade, the mayors have turned a blind eye, which is why people die and the people doing this are not paying property taxes properly. Blanket amnesty punishes the people doing this properly. The third is transit oriented development, so areas within a half a mile radius of train stations, and last year, that was all Metro North and LIRR stations outside of the city, would have to upzone,” Graziano said. He went on to form a coalition of communities that this would impact, which was boisterous in their protest. “We got this killed in

one month because the governor was running for election. She had dumped this in the budget because it’s harder to separate it out. It’s an omnibus budget bill and if you do that, people aren’t going to vote against the budget because it has education, safety, sewers, etc. This is just one little piece and she pulled out 90% in the 30-day amendment period but left the amnesty for illegal conversions and we had to remove that on the last day of budget negotiations with people in the state legislature from Queens forcing her to take it out,” he said.

But with Hochul winning the election, she brought back her housing plan in her 2023 State of the State and this time, Graziano said it’s even worse. “The first thing she said after the election was housing and bail reform are gonna be the two main focuses and in January of this year, she announced housing and if anything, this proposal is worse than what she did last year,” he said. According to Graziano, the newest proposal, again dumped into the budget calls for all communities in NY state to have a mandatory housing target. “If these targets are not met, local zoning will be removed, Home Rule will be tak-

en away and the state will create a board that will decide where multifamily apartment buildings can go whenever a developer comes to. It also removes all height restriction across New York. There will also be blanket amnesty for illegal conversions. If you build an ADU, you’ll get a property tax exemption,” he said. “But the big one was that transit-oriented development, not only around train stations in suburbs, but all MTA stations, including city stations like on Beach 116th, to a tune of a minimum of 50 units per acre. You’re currently in an R2 zone which maxes out at 10 to 11 units per acre. This would be a 500% increase minimum of the benchmark of zoning. I started looking at results of this and they’re terrifying. In Douglaston and Little Neck, there are 3,000 units of housing within a half mile radius. The minimum number of additional units would be 18,000. In St. Albans, Laurelton and Rosedale, it was a 500% increase of 4,000 to 20,000. Glen Cove and Locust Valley, the minimum would be 32,0000. We describe this as an extinction event. This is an existential threat to our communities.”

Continued on page 9

Happy Spring! *****

This week’s BHPOA meeting sure had its fair share of fireworks. Governor Hochul’s controversial housing plan, which has been included in this year’s state budget and is currently being negotiated, has certainly raised a lot of eyebrows throughout the peninsula, city and the state. Check out Katie McFadden’s coverage of the story on page 7.

*****

Reminder that the times for setting out your garbage will be changing effective Saturday, April 1. If your garbage is in a 55-gallon container (or less) with a secured lid, you may place the waste out after 6 p.m. If you are putting bags directly on the curb, you may place the waste out after 8 p.m. There are additional rules for businesses, and

all the information can be found at nyc.gov/ setouttimes.

*****

Another reminder that due to Sandy Rehabilitation Track Work, from Saturday, March 25 at 5:30 a.m. until Sunday, March 26 at 10:00 p.m., there will be no A train service between Rockaway Blvd. and Far Rockaway-Mott Ave. There will be free shuttle buses and rerouted S trains which will run between Rockaway Park and Far Rockaway.

*****

Adrienne’s, the new restaurant that will be taking over the Bayview location in Broad Channel, is now hiring for all positions. Send your resumés to Careers@Adriennes-nyc.com.

*****

This spring, at the Peninsula Library at 95-25 Rockaway Beach Blvd., there will be a mobile food pantry delivering fresh produce, protein and shelf-stable items. The pantry will be at the library on three different Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.: April 8, May 13 and June 10.

*****

The National Park Service has announced that their 2023 summer lifeguard positions, including at Jacob Riis Park, are now available. For more information, please visit: www.nps.gov/gate/getinvolved/ workwithus.htm. *****

Rumors have been swirling around Rockaway that two houses, one on 114th and one on 119th, are in the process of being turned into halfway houses. We love a good rumor as much as the next guy, but as of now, we have not seen any facts with regards to this rumor. Local elected officials are on the case and our ear is to the ground and if we hear anything solid, we promise to let you know!

*****

St. Francis College, the alma mater of many Rockaway locals, has announced that following the Spring 2023 season, they will be eliminating all athletic programs. St. Francis College has always had a storied athletic program, with their men’s basketball program being the oldest college program in New York

City, dating back to 1896. They were even charter members of the NCAA. The school’s Athletic Director, Irma Garcia, a graduate of St. Francis, said in a statement, “As we continue to compete this season, I ask that you pour love and positivity into our student-athletes. They have worked all year to play at their highest level and I will be cheering them on to the bitter end.” All current athletic and academic scholarships will be honored. *****

With the lows of one historic New York City athletic program comes the highs for another. St. John’s University announced that they will be hiring Rick Pitino as their next men’s head basketball coach. The often controversial, yet unquestionably talented Pitino, has a long history with the Big East Conference and NY basketball in general. The Hall of Fame coach spent the past three years at Iona College, making the NCAA Tournament two of those three years. St. John’s has only made the NCAA Tournament three times in the past twenty years.

March Specials

Thank you for thinking of us! There is Strength in Unity - Buy American!

URBAN PLANNER

Continued from Page 7

Despite the dire warning about this proposal, Graziano said there is some good news. “Many Democrats and all Republicans in the state legislature are opposed to this and when the super majorities tried to negotiate with the Governor over this, she told them to leave the room and the next day, both the Assembly and Senate put out house bills that stripped almost all of this Housing Compact from it. “Oh, and when the governor did this plan, she said for those who are concerned about infrastructure, I’m putting money in the bill for $250 million. The budget is $227 billion. That’s not even a drop in the bucket” Graziano said, mentioning one of the “perks” of the Housing Compact. At the end of the day, the Assembly and Senate put $500M for incentives for municipalities to tap into if they want to build housing, so if communities don’t want it, they don’t have to take the money. I’m

pleased they did this. However, the budget is not over,” he said.

Graziano mentioned a recent mass advertising and mailer movement, asking folks to support this budget. “This is by the American Opportunity. It’s a Super PAC out of DC, and we figured out its run by the Democratic Governors Association but that’s not really who funded this. It was someone who helped us get our communities protected in the past—Michael Bloomberg. It’s very disturbing. When he was in office, he worked with us. Why is he now giving $5 million to destroy our communities?” Graziano said.

“If any of this passes, we’re done. Hochul must stop this. Contact your state officials. Let them know how you feel about this,” he said, mentioning that most local state officials are against this, but Senator James Sanders has not taken a position on this yet. “The only way to stop this is if we’re all united. This is an assault on the most basic thing we have, which is our homes. We cannot be partisan with this.”

BHPOA President Paul King provided informational flyers on facts of the plan from the NY Housing Community for people to look over and form their own opinions on this plan.

“One of the things people are saying is I’m obsessing over the transit-oriented density and going up to 50 units, but this plan only calls for 3% over three years,” King said. To which Graziano quipped, “that’s 10% every decade. Let’s look at NYC. Four million units. Ten percent is 400,000 units in ten years, or 120,000 in three, and if we don’t do it, the state will take over our local control. This 3% number sounds easy, but that’s 120,000 units. It will never be done. It’s designed to fail, so the state can take over our rights and that’s the disturbing part of this,” he said, adding that the state isn’t giving anyone credit for recent housing that was built in the last few years.

A member of the audience said, “so any person who gets married and has a dream of buying a home, that’s over?” Graziano replied, “Absolutely.” He

also added that this fight, even if won against the state, won’t stop with the state. “If we win this, we will have to deal with this from our mayor and a number of our council members. This is an agenda, if it passes, your only option is to move out of the state. I’ve been doing this for 30 years professionally, and I’ve never seen anything like this, and for it to come back two years in a row? In my opinion, Hochul is not someone who understands politics and shouldn’t be in office,” Graziano, who is running for city council as a democrat in District 19, said.

The state budget is up for negotiations until March 31. Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato can be reached at amatos@nyassembly.gov or 718-9459550. Senator James Sanders can be reached atsanders@nysenate. gov or 718-327-7017. Governor Kathy Hochul can be reached at 518-474-8390.

For more information on Hochul’s plan, see: www.governor. ny.gov/programs/new-yorkhousing-compact

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023

Wishing All Our Customers a Happy Easter!

- The Paolillo & Sullivan Families

A&S At The Harbor

Palm Sunday & Easter Dinner Package

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Antipasto Platter Tomato Mozzarella Tray

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Main

Chicken A&S (with proscuitto, mozzarella, roasted pepper)

Chicken Scampi

Sweet Sliced Ham with Pineapple

Roast Beef with Mushrooms & Gravy Sausage & Meatballs in Sauce

2

Choose 1 of each:

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This Week in History

Theresa Lanzon was born. Robin Shapiro was born.

Madison Lyman was born. Michael "Mickey" Layden was born.

1775 - Patrick Henry declared "Give me liberty or give me death."

1806 - Lewis and Clark began their return

Tara Stackpole was born. Jeffrey Williams-Maisonet was born.

1958- Rock 'n' roll star Elvis Presley joined the U.S. army for two years.

1989 - In one of the worst oil spills in recent history, the tanker, Exxon Valdez, ran aground and released 240,000 barrels of oil into Prince William Sound.

1945 - The battle of Iwo Jima ended; about 22,000 Japanese troops were killed or captured in the fighting and more than 4,500 U.S. troops were killed.

2000 - Vladimir Putin was elected president of Russia.

MARCH 27

Tara Walter was born.

1884 - The first long-distance telephone call was made, between Boston and New York. 2001 - A federal judge ruled that the University of Michigan’s affirmative action policy was invalid, a ruling that later would be reversed in an appeal.

MARCH 28

Kate Johnson was born. Yarden Flatow was born.

1939 - The Spanish Civil War ended. 1979 - Nuclear power plant accident at Three Mile Island, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania occured.

Hanger Steak with Onions and Mushrooms

Chicken with Spinach and Fresh Mozzarella

Stuffed Loin of Pork

Sweet Sliced Ham with Pineapple

Roast Beef with Mushrooms & Gravy

1634 - Maryland was founded by settlers sent by the late Lord Baltimore.

Marisa O’Brien was born. Chris Owens was born. Kelly Byrnes was born.  Katrina Visco was born.

1827 - Composer Ludwig van Beethoven died at age 56 in Vienna, Austria.

Candied Carrots String Beans Almondine

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House Salad Italian Bread

Assorted Riceballs & Croquettes

Cookie Platter

8-10 People $315 12-15 People $470

Also Available

Our famous prosciutto bread $12.00

Italian Easter Pie “Pizza Rustica” $18 per lb.

Main Dessert

MARCH 29

Grace Leahy was born. Davina Grincevicius was born.  Chris Howard was born.

1973 - The last U.S. troops left South Vietnam.

1999 - The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 10,000 for the first time, at 10,006.78.

Far Rock Man Gets 17 Years for Manslaughter

Mashed, Red Roasted Potato,

Cookies

Fruit

Includes: Spring Salad, Dinner Rolls & Assorted Riceballs & Croquettes

$485 package (Serves 10-12)

Order by 3/29 for Palm Sunday

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On Wednesday, March 22, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Atekel Donaldson was sentenced to 17 years in prison for the death of a 15-year-old getting off of a city bus in Far Rockaway in February 2018.

District Attorney Katz said: “A teenager’s life was senselessly cut short by gun violence, which continues to steal family, friends, and loved ones from our communities. We cannot relent until we end the plague of illegal guns on our streets.”

Donaldson, 26, of Bay 32nd Street in Far Rockaway, pleaded guilty in December to manslaughter in the first degree. Justice Kenneth Holder sentenced him to a determinate term of 17 years in prison followed by five years post-release supervision.

According to the charges, on Thursday, February 8, 2018, at approximately 4:06 pm, in front of 46-15 Beach Channel Drive, Donaldson approached the victim, Youssef Soliman, 15, as he was getting off of a city bus in Far Rockaway. Donaldson shot Soliman twice, striking him in the hand and torso, fatally wounding him.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Zawistowski of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Peter J. McCormack, III and John W. Kosinski, Senior Deputy Chiefs, and Karen Ross Deputy Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.

The Bettina Show Brings Laughs to The Rose Den

By Katie McFadden

Each September, she’s at the front of the Poseidon’s Parade, keeping things moving past the judging stand as mermaid hype-woman extraordinaire, but it’s not just on the boardwalk where she’s keeping things organized and putting other’s talents on display. The Bettina Show has come to Rockaway and hostess, Bettina Hornung, is busy bringing some big talent to a local stage. On Wednesday, March 15, she kicked it all off with her first low-key comedy show at The Rose Den, which turned out a packed house that was full of laughs.

The big turnout for her big night wasn’t a surprise, as it wasn’t Bettina’s first rodeo. Hornung herself began getting into comedy after her father passed way in 2009. “It was an outlet for me. I don’t know how to handle stress. I make jokes out of everything and that’s how I get through. My brother saw this class at Governor’s Comedy Club, so he bought me the class and I did it and did two shows at Governor’s for our midterm and final. I started doing open mics and I liked it, but I didn’t like how repetitive it was, and I realized I’m more of a host. I like to sit back and watch the show.”

While living in Long Beach and working at The Cabana, Hornung began hosting comedy shows. “I was packing the house at Cabana and the Jetty. I did a few charity events for cystic fibrosis, and we raised thousands of dollars. We did other events like a dating auction around Valentine’s Day and comedy shows in between. It was fun,” she said. Hornung eventually moved back to Rockaway but had taken a break from hosting shows. “Covid hit and I was doing video clips online and losing my mind being behind four walls and I said, I gotta get back into this,” she said. She started pitching ideas to a few local businesses to host a comedy or talent show, but to no avail. That was until The Rose Den opened on Beach 116th in November. “The owner, Katharine Varno, pushed it out of me. I begged her every time I was there, saying just give me your slowest night. She’s the

only one that gave me a chance. Us women need to stick together,” Hornung said.

Varno gave her March 15 to show what she can do, and Hornung got to work recruiting some of the comedians she met along the way in Long Island, and some of Rockaway’s comedic locals. Varno would serve as the bartender, Mikal Hameed would provide the sound equipment, her brother Michael, “The Ocean King” Hornung, would DJ, and a friend, Adrian of A’s Food Empire, would bring a sample menu of items like empanadas and Rasta Pasta to keep bellies full of delicious eats, while the comedians kept them full of laughter. Last Wednesday, it all came together.

Bettina packed the house. On Varno’s busiest night since opening four months ago, it was standing room only at The Rose Den for The Bettina Show’s first comedy night. Bettina herself served as hostess for the evening, setting the ground rules, including no heckling, and hyping up each comedian as they took the stage at the front of the bar. Locals kicked off the show, with Owen Loof, the Best Dressed Man in Rockaway, opening with some tame comedy that all could enjoy, plus a little something extra for the locals, giving shoutouts and roasting some neighbors in the room. He was followed by Enchantress Shane Kulman, who spiced things up a bit, reflecting on her days as an exotic dancer and some of the famous faces she met along the way. They were

followed by some comedians Bettina has met along the way, including Travis Grant, Hugh Murray, Steve Rocco Parillo and Herbie Gill, who all had many in the audience laughing ‘til their faces hurt, throughout the night.

The debut of The Bettina Show was a hit. “It went better than I thought. I was so nervous. I threw this together and the pressure was on because she gave me one night, so I had to prove it,” Hornung said. “But I was really happy with it. We packed the house and had a dance party after. It was amazing and I’m ready for the next show.”

Hornung brought it, and Varno invited her to do it all again next month. On Wednesday, April 12, Hornung is hosting her next lowkey comedy show. Some comedians have already agreed to come back like Steve Rocco Parillo and Herbie Gill, plus some others will be in the mix, such as Mike Keegan, Johnny McDonald and Mike Touhey. “We’re hoping for some more Rockaway locals too,” Hornung said.

These comedy shows are all lead-

ing up to Bettina’s dream of hosting a talent showcase sometime in May or June, so locals can show off their best. “We’re going to welcome all comedians, spoken word, everything from magic to dance, rapping, singing, jugglers, everything and anything. If people want to display food, that’s a talent. I’m a good hype man and I want to hype up everyone’s talents,” she said. More details will be announced at a later date, but if anyone is interested, they can reach out to Bettina by email at: bettinasbigbreak@gmail.com or on Instagram @bettinashow, where she’ll be posting updates about future shows.

“We’re doing big things. I love bringing more to Rockaway. I feel like Rockaway is about to blow up with all this cool stuff and now I’m a part of it,” Hornung said. “I don’t just lead the parade anymore, now I got my own show.”

In the meantime, reserve those tables at The Rose Den for April 12, as they’ll go quick! For reservations, send a direct message to The Rose Den on Instagram @therosedennyc

Rockaway Homes International College Hockey Hopefuls

By Katie McFadden

This week, a group of young men that make up the New York Aviators hockey team in the U.S. Premier Hockey League (USPHL), have left the ice at Aviator in Brooklyn to travel up to Utica in hopes of being crowned champs at Nationals. But the four-hour ride is short considering where many of them originally came from. From west coast states like Washington and California, to Ireland and even Sweden, this team is made up of members from across the globe, but they all wound up on our little peninsula as they pursue dreams of playing college hockey.

The USPHL is a junior hockey program that provides youth with a training outlet and steppingstone into the world of college hockey. And for young hockey players in Europe and other parts of the world, where college sports aren’t an option, it’s an ideal program for youth who hope to continue with their hockey career post-high school in hopes of one day making it to the big leagues across the world. Last week, during a break, many of the young men were in places like Minnesota and Massachusetts on a recruitment tour, scoping out potential colleges where they can play Division III college hockey.

But as they plan for the future, for the past few months, the main focus has been sticks and pucks. During a showcase in Stockholm, one coach from the league was looking out for potential recruits for the program. He had his eyes set on a few players, pitched the idea of them coming to New York, and seven young men from Sweden were on board. Meanwhile other coaches from across the country and world also recommended players for the program. For 31 young men, they found themselves calling Aviator Sports their home rink, with Mike Stanaway as their head coach and Jimmy Iucci as assistant coach. And not being from the area, they needed a home nearby. Through the program, more than half of the team was placed in homes in Rockaway, with six players sharing an

apartment on Beach 98th, a whopping 14 sharing a home on Beach 136th and six more living at a home on Beach 121st.

On Monday, at the home of a generous neighbor who has befriended the young men, The Rockaway Times sat down with the Aviator players staying on Beach 121st to talk about their goals in the net and goals for their future. Four of them are from Stockholm, Sweden, including Mathias Rakell, 20, a right wing forward, Max Granlund, 20, a center and left wing defense, Markus Andrews, 20, who plays left defense, and Christopher Friberg, 20, a center, plus 21-year-old Stirling Nash, a left wing forward from Seattle, WA and Trey Loucks, 19, a right wing forward from Corona, CA. They say at Beach 121st, they make a good team. “Everyone gets along,” Andrews said. And they’ve been enjoying their temporary home.

When they first arrived in September, they hit the beach. “It’s cool because when we left Sweden, it was getting cold, so we went swimming here in September. It was really nice,” Andrews said. They say they’ve met some great people and have even found the locals to be friendlier than back home. “I think the best part of Rockaway is the people. In general, the people of New York are more friendly than Swedish people. Talking to a neighbor and getting invited for lunch would never happen there,” Andrews said. Stirling, of Seattle, agreed. “I think I like east coast people more,” he said.

And of course, young athletes have to get those calories in. They’ve frequented several local eateries, with Pico being a favorite. But they’ve also been to Meat Up Grill, Rocco’s, Last Stop, Dunkin Donuts, O’Sake, Jamesons, and are regulars at Bagel Barista Station for breakfast, and sandwiches at Pickles and Pies. Plus, they’re big fans of the ferry, taking it in their free time to explore Manhattan, like last Friday, when they stopped at JKS Printing to grab some green gear saying, “Rockaway Beach”, before

heading to Stone Street to enjoy some St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

But there’s limited time to spend in Rockaway or enjoy the NY tourist hotspots. After all, the guys are here to play hockey. Part of the draw to this program, in addition to being a pathway to playing college hockey, is getting plenty of ice time. Since they landed in NY in September, the boys have been practicing for three hours a day from Monday to Friday. “No team can practice three hours a day in Sweden,” Andrews said. And on weekends, it’s game time. In the middle of the season, which began on October 12, they were playing two to three games a weekend. And they’ve been playing well. “The season’s been really successful,” Stirling said. “Out of 38 games, we lost six,” Rakell said. “We only lost to three teams.” Throughout the season, the Aviators have faced off against northeast teams from PA to upstate to Long Island to CT and NJ, including their rivals, the Rockets, who practice at the Prudential Center.

The boys explained that last year, the Rockets knocked the Aviators out of the playoffs, and the Rockets went on to win Nationals. But this year, the Aviators got their revenge. “It was a big deal for the coach this year to make sure we didn’t make the same mistake twice. We lost to them three times this year and then beat them in the playoffs, 5-4 in overtime, with Max scoring

the overtime goal, and the second game we won 6-3 in an empty netter,” Andrews said. “For the guys who came back from last year, it was a big deal to beat them at playoffs.”

After a successful regular and playoff season, the Aviators are on to Nationals. They left on March 22 to head up to Utica for the Nationals, which take place from March 23 through March 28. Eighteen teams from all across the states, including the west coast teams, will be competing for the championship rings. The New York Aviators are feeling confident. “I think we’ll take it home,” Loucks said. “If we play like we did the last three playoff games or better, we’ll win,” Rakell, who happens to be the top scorer in the USPHL, said. “Our strength is offense and we’re good with the puck.”

After hopefully taking Nationals, the boys will be coming back to Rockaway to spend a few days celebrating before heading back home on March 31. As for the future, they all hope to keep playing. “For most of us, our goal is to play college hockey and after those four years, we’ll see what happens,” Andrews said. For some, that means making it to the top. “I’m hoping to be in the NHL one day,” Loucks said.

To follow up with the USPHL Nationals, check out www.usphlpremier.com or USPHLHockey on Instagram and USPHL on Twitter.

718-634-1737

718-843-3211

161-11 Crossbay Blvd

Howard Beach, NY 11414

On Saturday March 18, Strut The Stage presented a creative first— an Unconventional Improv Show, at The Rose Den. Enchantress Shane Kulman directed five actors using the improv method she was trained in from The Open Door Acting company, which she attributes for her life being saved over 15 years ago.

Unconventional Improv

Most of the members of this Troupe live and thrive in Rockaway. Rockaway Russel Siegel, Caryn Isaacs, Mindi Dovberg, John Diblosi, and Susan Michele Coronel took the stage, only having participated in two workshops to prepare, and even then, only knowing their partner and the relationship to their stage partner, the rest was improv. This style of improv is based on the unconventionality of saying NO.  It’s a dramatic improv with about five characters that all reside in the fictitious "enchant-away."

"You helped make the people happy,” Salvatore Lopizzo, founder of YANA, was overheard saying to Shane. “Rockaway needs more of this." The house was packed, all seats were filled and the bar was quiet with the exception of the actors in the area which represented the stage. “They were amazing, we were sucked in to all the drama!” said Dan Guarino. “We loved

how it was a whole story, and not separate skits! This flowed like a whole story… that really was a nice touch,” said a participant that traveled in from Westchester.

Shane Kulman said she feels

"elated to have the opportunity to continue to teach the work that changed and saved her life so many years ago... we focus on what works, and this is what translates the most in the actors' lives..."

These Irish Eyes Are Smiling On Irish American Heritage Month  Meet Tom Murphy of Curran’s Superior Meats

By Kami-Leigh Agard

In 1991, Congress recognized March as Irish American Heritage Month, and since then, it has been a bipartisan declaration by every president, celebrating the achievements and contributions of Irish Americans nationwide. In this month-long series, The Rockaway Times salutes our local Irish Americans, expanding on the conversation around what it means to be Irish American. These individuals all exude, not just their passion to preserve Rockaway’s rich legacy as NYC’s premier Irish Riviera—but also their passion to pass it on to the next generation. In this week’s installation, meet Tom Murphy, eternal Rockaway resident, and proprietor of Rockaway staple, Curran’s Superior Meats.

Within five minutes of meeting Tom Murphy, you’ll see that these Irish eyes are not only smiling but sparkling with mischievous humor. Just listen to his Irish brogue impersonation of his family in Ireland, and you’ll be roaring with laughter, thinking if he wasn’t a butcher for the last 40 years, he could’ve been a stand-up comedian, like Jay Leno, whose photo graces his shop’s wall.

However, jokes aside, Murphy, like with his butchering trade, strongly holds dear his and Rockaway’s Irish roots. “I love Rockaway, and being an Irish local, I’m especially proud of our contributions and everything we’ve accomplished here in building up Rockaway,” he said.

A second-generation Irish American on both of his parents’ sides, Murphy shared that at age five, he moved with his family to Broad Channel, then Beach 114th Street from Bayonne, New Jersey in the 1970s.

“My mom, Eileen, was a tough one from Washington Heights. Her parents were from Donegal, Ireland. My dad was from the Bronx, with his parents hail -

ing from County Kerry. I always get people coming into Curran’s asking where I’m from. Well, I tell them my parents came from the Bronx ‘cause people like a Bronx guy. But then I take the sauce, and say in a ‘Joisey’ accent, ‘I was born in Bayonne, NJ. What the hell was I doing in Jersey?’”

When asked what Rockaway was like in the 1970s, Murphy’s eyes lit up. “As a working-class Irish family, like most in the area, we loved it! Back then, you'd go out at night, walking along the boulevard and know everybody by name, and everybody knew you. We were all like an extended big family. My brother, Georgie, and I basically lived on the beach with our friends. Something as simple as going to the penny arcade on Beach 116th Street brings back great memories,” Murphy said.

He and his siblings attended all local schools, P.S. 225, J.H.S. 180 and Beach Channel High. When he was 17, his father took him to his job to see if he wanted to be a Local 147 union sandhog.

Like Murphy’s father, traditional sandhogs were Irish or Irish American, and it was not uncommon to see multi-generations of families working on the same projects. Starting with the Brooklyn Bridge in 1872, the sandhogs built a large part of the NYC infrastructure, such as the subway tunnels, sewers, and the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. They also worked on the foundations for most of NYC’s bridges and skyscrapers.

“Both my brothers were sandhogs. I remember when my dad first took me to check it out. This little elevator brought us underground. As we went down, I thought I was entering a cave with bats. Then we took a train to the job site, where 70 to 80 guys were shoveling and what they called, ‘shaping.’ They would blow up dynamite to make a passage. It’s hard, dirty

work, and after a couple hours, I said, ‘Dad, take me back.’ It just wasn’t for me,” Murphy shared.

He shared that his passion was more in running a business of his own. “I first worked in a deli on Beach 113th Street. After learning that part of the trade, I decided I wanted to own a bar.

I found a spot on Beach 97th Street, where the old Flynn and McLaughlin’s was, and opened Tom Murphy’s Pub. Across the street was Playland, but unfortunately, this was 1985,” he said. As Murphy tells it, that year, Playland was knocked down and the bar went bust.

So, he headed to Beach 129th Street to work for Curran’s. In an Irish brogue, impersonating his former boss, Murphy said, “The owner, John Curran, liked me and said, ‘I'm gonna make a butcher out of you for Christ’s sake now!’ I laughed because I didn’t know how to be a butcher. This is when all my friends were becoming cops, firemen and lawyers.”

However, Murphy stayed with Curran, who he says taught him everything he knows about the sacred art of butchering.

Then one day, according to Murphy, Curran, getting up in years, asked him to take over the store. He responded, “John, I’m worrying about paying my rent, and you want me to take over the store?” Well, Curran did enough convincing because Murphy has been the owner ever since they shook hands on the deal.

Murphy said, “I learned my trade, and for the last 40 years, I continued John’s legacy when he opened the shop in 1960. He taught me a lot and I still keep his old Irish sayings in mind like, ‘If you wouldn't sell it to your mother-in-law, don't sell it to anyone else,’ and ‘Your first loss is your best loss,’ which means in other words, if I have a piece of meat that I don’t like, send it back or throw it away. John really drove in the importance of

personalized, customer service.”

Murphy loves his work, so much so, that even after Hurricane Sandy destroyed the shop, he determinedly came back with his staff and opened up a new shop on Beach 116th Street in June 2013. “I’m grateful because with the community’s support, we proved the naysayers wrong. I’m also grateful that I was able to keep my same workers, and this year marks 10 years we are open at this location.”

He also shared that the community showed their support and love during an especially difficult time when his son, Tom, passed away four years ago. “Many knew my son, as he used to come in the shop every Sunday to make his specialty, mac and cheese. He was my best friend. So many folks reached out, with some even driving all the way to Farmingdale for his funeral. This is something I will always hold dear,” he said.

For Murphy, the Irish community will always be an important element of Rockaway’s tightly woven fabric. "Whether I’m visiting my family in Ireland or just interacting with my customers here, the Irish culture is alive in all of us. However, Rockaway’s ethnic diversity has grown, and it just makes us even more special and blessed to live in our oceanside community," he said.

Curran’s Superior Meats is located at 239 Beach 116th Street. For their daily specials and more info, call: (718) 634-7408

Special

you to St. Francis de Sales Church and Catholic A cademy (Father Bill, Father Jim, Board of Directors, Dr. Scharbach, Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Greene, Faculty, Students & Families)

The Ancient Order of Hiber nians

The Belle Harbor Yacht Club

The Carey Family Ms. Sheila Cassidy

The Graybeards

The Publican Sof tball Crew

RBQ Restaurant Family (The Maroneys, The Wades, Chris Solo, The Knobs, Joe Culleton, and The L ocals)

The Re Family

The Rock away WISH

Incredibly Generous R ock away Friends

With love, Nancy, Kevin & Jodi and Marina

The Conway, Ferguson & Hynes Families

‘I Thought I Saw A…’

Short Film Shoots in Broad Channel

By Dan Guarino

Rockaway and Broad Channel have been great places to film in, being the locale of choice for many film and television shoots. Joining that list of ‘made right here’ productions is one of its shortest and certainly most interestingly titled.

Early Sunday morning, March 11, the crew and cast of “I Thought I Saw A Serial Killer” set up bright and early, ready to film at the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Post in Broad Channel.

Turns out, the bar at the rear of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 260 on Shad Creek Road, located on Cross Bay Blvd., was the perfect spot to shoot this serio-comic short with a twist. VFW members opened up at 7 a.m. for the crew and hosted them once again to complete filming on Monday, March 12.

Scriptwriter, director and actor Anthony Kaye explained the film is being made for “a competition hosted by Musicbed.com, a subscription royalty-free music website.” A big part of the challenge is that all submissions must be started and finished within 30 days, with a hard March 31 deadline for all.

“Start something. Finish something,” says the Musicbed Challenge website. “You have 30 days to make a film that fits into one of these categories: Documentary, Spec-Ad, or Narrative.” Industry-leading judges will review every film.” Winners will receive the judges’ personal feedback, and $100K in cash and prizes. Additionally, Kaye noted, each film “can be no shorter than 30 seconds and no longer that 10 minutes.” They must also use one music piece, from a selection provided by Musicbed, someway, somewhere in the finished film.

Back at the VFW, filming is underway for scenes for “I Thought I Saw a Serial Killer.” Kaye says, “The VFW is a warm and welcoming place, with fun and friendly patrons, and we deeply appreciate the generosity of the members in letting us film here.” Having worked on previous

productions there, he noted it’s “a special spot, with the added bonus of a stunning view of the Manhattan city skyline.”

“The film,” he explained, “is a parody of an original idea I had for a dark comedy feature-film script after a friend invited me out to a local bar in Queens. Over the evening, I got into a discussion with a stranger who suddenly gave me a very creepy vibe, and started to remind me of a serial killer.” Kaye plans to finish the longer script this summer.

Albeit nervously, he says he is playing one of the two characters chatting at the VFW’s bar. In take after take, surrounded by cameras and sound gear, he and actor Rod Caccavale added touches to their performance, like nervous tapping on a beer glass. Caccavale also suggested draining amounts from his glass as they progressed, noting how often you will see characters in movies with a half-empty glass in one scene which is then “magically” full again in the next.

Joining them are actors Maegan

Kaye, Candy Flermius and Harrison Kaye. The film crew consisted of Joe Valva, Donna Valva, Wanda Grobelkiewicz, Edgar Morales, Gregory Grambo, and Flermuis, doing double-duty, with Kaye as Director. All added suggestions to the proceedings, including a bystander, who proposed a dialogue line which did get used in a possible take.

Studying filmmaking, script and storytelling since 2006, Kaye met his production mates while working in all capacities on “over 100 different programs appearing on QPTV.”

“We have worked together ever since on both QPTV programs and our own independent productions,” often with their production roles interchanging. With a number of award-winning productions between them, he noted their working style is very collaborative. “We rely on each other’s ideas, opinions, advice and expertise.”

“The shoot at the VFW took us two days. Editing will probably take one to two weeks.” His next project is a documentary on the Gaslight Key

Club. Opened in the 1950s, this “hidden gem of old New York” recreates the speakeasy style of a Roaring ‘20’s establishment, and was “renown for an amazing roster of classic jazz musicians from New York City's jazz heyday. Elizabeth Taylor shot scenes for her movie ‘Butterfield 8’ there,” Kaye said. “And both my mother and her twin sister were employed as Gaslight Showgirls.”

With the clock ticking though, Kaye and company state they will let the public know when, where and how they might view “I Thought I Saw A Serial Killer.”

“This project was great fun for me,” he says. It was the first project our production team had worked on since the Covid-19 lockdowns were finally lifted, and I am so grateful to be working on on them again.”

About filming in Broad Channel, he said the island community “has a great vibe, a sleepy hidden little gem, with a down-home small-town feel, right on the outskirts of the Big City.”

Photo by Dan Guarino.

This past weekend, March 18 and 19, nearly 100 NYC Plover Project volunteers from across the peninsula and city, assisted Gateway National Recreation Area staff to install miles of symbolic fencing and signage to protect nesting Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers.

Each year in March, federally-protected and endangered migratory shorebirds begin to arrive on our peninsula beaches. National Park Service staff and volunteers were ready, and braved the elements to install the protective measures.

“This year is the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act,” said Chris Allieri, founder, NYC Plover Project. “Now more than ever, we need to protect threatened and endangered species across our nation. We are so fortunate to have an endangered species – the Piping Plover– consistently nest in New York City. I think that sometimes people forget that they are

Preparing for Plovers

a tiny intrepid species just trying to survive. A little bit of inconvenience for us, for a brief moment in our lifetimes, can actually have a huge difference on the survival of this species.”

While the fencing may seem minimal, the symbolic fencing (symbolic as it’s a visual barrier, not an actual physical one), along with signage, does help keep people out of closures, while informing them of the measures that agencies and volunteers are taking across the city to assure better breeding success.

“Protecting habitats is a must when it comes to protecting Plovers”, said Allieri. “Unfortunately, 2022 was a bad year for Piping Plover productivity. From predation to off-leash dogs, drones and nest vandalism, both Plovers and Oystercatchers got it from all sides. We can, should and will do more to protect them.”

To volunteer with NYC Plover Project this season, you can contact volunteer@nycploverproject.org.

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Attention Friends and Neighbors -

In her State of the State address, Governor Hochul announced that she wants to end single family zoning in the entire state of New York AND fund, through a budget omnibus, "Transit-Oriented Development" or (TOD's), which will increase density within a half-mile radius of every train station in the state. What does this mean exactly ? For one, a developer could potentially purchase a few homes on your block and construct a multiple dwelling in its place. This legislation would be disastrous for the aesthetic of most communities and potentially to the value of most NYers' largest asset. The budget is due April 1, meaning we only have a short two week window to contact our elected officials to voice our displeasure. Please visit our website for more information.

In order to make our voices heard, please find each politician's respective legislative director's contact information below. It only takes a few minutes to reach out to the legislative director via email and phone call, to voice your opinion.

Bills:

NY Assembly Bill A4854

NY Senate Bill S4547

**Transit Oriented Development is not a bill, but will be included in the omnibus budget **

Contact Elected Officials:

https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/james-sanders-jr/contact

Entire Rockaway Peninsula

Legislative Director: Paul Alexander (Albany Office)

Alexande@nysenate.gov

**Note there is no "r" in Alexander**

https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Stacey-Pheffer-Amato/contact/ Breezy Point, Neponsit, Belle Harbor, Rockaway Park, Rockaway Beach, South Arverne, South Edgemere, Parts of Far Rockaway

Legislative Director: Gregory Slade

Email: SladeG@nyassembly.gov

https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Khaleel-M-Anderson/contact/ North Arverne, North Edgemere and Far Rockaway

Legislative Director: Monet Schultz

Email: SchultzM@nyassembly.gov

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Guaranteed CASH OFFER on your home!

Come in for your free consultation and find out what we do that’s different.

HOUSE RENTAL

FIRST SHOWING

RENTED 417

JUST

 OPEN

HOUSE

118 Beach 60th Street (#101)

Sunday, 3/26 . 1-2:30pm

An exceptional beach condo for the most discriminating buyer! Terrific 2 BR apt boasts being the first home from surfer beach and is one of only 2 units with a highly desirable floor plan. $449,000

NEW TO MARKET

ROCKAWAY PARK

OCEAN FRONT BUILDING

Spacious studio in an oceanfront building. Priced to sell call today for your private showing. $235,000

BEACH BLOCK

RENTAL OF THE WEEK! BEAUTIFULLY RENOVATED Beach Block 3BR, 2 bath plus large office or play room. Comes with 2 parking spots and use of backyard. $4,200

B. 140: Center hall colonial summer rental w/ 5BR, 4BA, full basement & pool (BF). . $25,000

B. 117: 2BR, 1BA seasonal or long term rental in multi family. Inc. all utilities (TC). . . . $3,500

B. 117: First floor 2BR, 1BA seasonal rental in multi family home (TC) . . . . . . . . . . . $3,250

B. 125: 3BR, 2BA apt, HW floors and over-sized terrace with city views (LJ) $2,900

B. 118: Modern 3BR, 1BA apartment with W/D in unit and 1 car parking (ZP) $2,800

B. 96: Beautiful corner 1BR, 1BA apartment with views of Jamaica Bay (CF) $2,426

B. 121: Penthouse 1BR, 1BA w/ ocean & city views. Subject to board interview (BF) . . $2,200

B. 121: Spacious 1BR, 1BA unit w/ den/home office. Subject to board interview (BF) . $2,000

Brooklyn: Spacious and bright 1BR, 1BA, with EIK and closet space (TC) $1,900

Brooklyn: 1BR, 1.5BA condo unit in Bergen Beach with SS appliances (TC) . . . . . . . $1,900

B. 96: 1BR, 1BA apartment in elevator building with parking available (CF). . . . . . . . $1,813

B. 74: 1BR, 1BA apt with tons of natural light and HW floors (SB) $1,800

B. 118: Studio co-op with sleeping cove and ocean views (NS) $,1700

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,657

B. 120: 1BR, 1BA

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OCEANFRONT CONDO

OPEN HOUSE

Seavon Condominium

130 Beach 119 Street, Unit 4A

Sunday, March 26th 12:30pm - 2:00pm

Enjoy living at the beach in this 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom with ocean front terrace.

Direct ocean views, sunny open layout, high-end kitchen, w/d, lots of closets, deeded indoor parking space, storage, pet friendly. $735K

Call Susan 347-260-3891

BEAUTIFUL BRIGHT STUDIO COOP

CONTRACT $225,000

Call Bronagh 718-877-6324

BEST BOARDWALK BUILDING

One Bedroom, Oceanfront Boardwalk Coop. Bright, Sunny & Spacious. Newly renovated kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite counter-tops and stunning cabinetry. The unit offers beautiful hardwood floors and lots of closets. Open living & dining room layout. Building consists of Security Entrance System, laundry room, outdoor shower, rental parking options. No Pets.

Offered at $340,000

CALL SUSAN 347- 260- 3891

SUMMER EFFECTS

THE HOME INSPECTON – 9 PREPARATION TIPS

By Robin Shapiro

The following tips are for sellers in order to speed up their home inspection. The inspection can take anywhere from one to three hours, or even longer. These tips will help to expedite the inspection – make it go smoother:

1) Confirm that water, electric and gas services are on, with gas lights burning.

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

2) Replace burned out bulbs to avoid a “light is inoperable” report that may suggest an electrical problem. 3) Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace dead batteries. 4) Clean or replace dirty HVAC equipment, electric service panels, water heaters, attics and crawl spaces. 5) Remove items blocking access to HVAC equipment, electric service panels, water heaters, attics and crawl spaces. 6) Remove stored items,

debris and wood – “conducive conditions” for termites. 7) Unlock areas the inspector must access – attic doors or hatches, electric service panels, closets, fence gates and crawl spaces. 8) Trim tree limbs to 10 feet from the roof and shrubs which could block access to the house. 9) Attend to broken or missing items like door knobs, locks and latches, windowpanes, screens, gutters, downspouts, and chimney caps.

Checking these areas before your home inspection is an investment in selling your property at the best possible price. This column was written mainly by John Esposito, NYS licensed home inspector.  Call him at “The House Detective”:  718-318-1263.   Call me.  Love, Robin.

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

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

Call me, Love, Robin. 718-490-9463

Summer Rentals: Call Susan 347-260-3891

• B130’s - 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, use of indent parking

• B130’s – Studio, use of yard and parking

• Rockaway Park -2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom

• Belle Harbor summer house rental

APARTMENTS

Studios available from ..................$1,100 - $1,400

Call Susan 347-260-3891

BATH BEACH BROOKLYN

GREAT INVESTMENT PROPERTY

4 Family brick home with parking, yard Perfect location close to shops, train and express bus CALL SUSAN 347-260-3891

BRAND NEW EXCLUSIVE LISTING

WONDERFUL PLACE TO CALL HOME

BH steps to beach, Extra large 3 bedrooms with a master suite, 2.5 baths, terrace plus spacious outdoor living to enjoy. Gorgeous eat in kitchen, large dining/ living room, lots of closets, lovely entrance-way with additional space to utilize as office, w/d & parking.

our

A Great set up to work from home! Pay all utilities. No pets........................................................$3,400

Beach Block Legal Two Owner apartment, 2 or 3 bedrooms, renovated kitchen, large living room and dining room, semi finished basement with half bath. Rental apartment: 2 bedrooms, large living room with terrace, and bonus space on top floor, 3 extra rooms. $975,000

Call Kate 917-680-8051

Call Susan 347-260-3891

Beach 120’s - extra large 1 bed, coop rental, hardwood floors throughout, new renovated kitchen. No pets. Pay electric $2300

Call Susan 347-260-3891

the ballot

Beach 120’s – two bedroom, oceanfront w/terrace, no pets, pay electric. Available May 1st $2950

Call Susan 347-260-3891

Associate Real Estate Broker

Hurricane Forecast is not very favorable this year! Everyone needs to get a flood policy!

Century 21 Amiable II Margaret A. Wagner Associate Broker (347)236-2018 cell | (718)845-4700 / www.c21amiable2.com

Raised Colonial with 3 bedrooms, 1 full bath, 2 half baths, large open living room, kitchen & dining room, full basement with a laundry room, work shop, lots of storage space, deck right off the dining room with patio doors, hot tub, pool, view sunrises from the front balcony, solar panels, tiled floors, split air units. Walk to trains, express bus, stores, tennis, Gateway National Park. 5 minute ride Rockaway Beach & Ferry to Manhattan. Listed for $629,000

Newly Renovated Raised Home, 2 bedrooms, office or small third bedroom, living room, kitchen with plenty of closets, large bathroom with washer and dryer, dining room, attic, yard, plenty of storage space underneath the house, walk to stores, parks, tennis courts, library, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Express Bus, to NYC, near Rockaway Beach, & ferry. 15 minute ride to JFK Airport. Listed for $469,000

Facts You Probably D on’t Need

 Your fingernails grow faster on your dominant hand.

 The average American spends about 2.5 days a year looking for lost items.

 Cap'n Crunch's full name is Captain Horatio Magellan Crunch.

 The wood frog can hold its urine for up to eight months.

 In 2007, a dead bowhead whale was found with a harpoon embedded in its blubber that dated back to the 1800s.

 On April 18, 1930, the BBC announced that there was no news on that day and played piano music on its air instead.

 The bar tab of a 1787 farewell party for George Washington is still intact. According to the bill, the Founding Fathers drank 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, seven bottles of whiskey, 22 bottles of porter, eight bottles of hard cider, 12 bottles of beer, and seven bowls of alcoholic punch between the 55 attendees.

 Pineapples were seen as such a status symbol during the 18th century that people could rent them to put on display at parties.

Facts by Sean McVeigh, factologist.

Want to send your 14 year old daughter or son to have SAFE fun, while learning life-long skills at the beach? Does the development of leadership, team building, seamanship, citizenship, public service, and teamwork interest you and your child and call you both to action? Is an overall atmosphere of fun, led by Scouts for Scouts a place you want your children to be?

We are the Sea Scout Ship 343, Patriot. We meet Tuesday evenings in the Point Breeze Clubhouse in the winter and Saturdays and Tuesday evenings on the beach in the warmer season. We march in the Breezy parades, sell various items at the stores, deliver lap afghans to Veterans and perform many other community service acts.

Away from the Point we have: paddled down the Delaware River, visited SUNY Maritime College, visited a NYC fireboat, learned to read charts and navigate by dead reconning, rendezvoused on the beach with other sea scout ships, attended shooting sports upstate, sailed our bigger boats

Safe Summer Fun for Teens

and experienced many other exciting activities.

On the beach, Scouts learn to sail small boats, row, drive our inflatable rescue boat, go on fishing trips and canoe. They participate and achieve the NY state boaters award and above all, learn how to be a good citizen and work as a team.

Did you know NASA and scouting have a long history? More than twothirds of all current and former astronauts have been involved in scouting. Of the 312 pilots and scientists selected as astronauts since 1959, at least 207 have been identified as having been Scouts or active in scouting. Of the 24 men to travel to the moon on the Apollo 8 and Apollo 10 through 17 missions, 20 were Scouts, including 11 of the 12 men who walked on the moon, and all three members of the crew of Apollo 13. Similar accomplishments and leadership in other fields are often associated with former Scouts.

The leadership, teamwork, life skills and positive role models that are part of scouting help create motivated,

high-achieving adults who may go on to become astronauts, scientists, engineers, business and government leaders. Perhaps your young one can make rank and use it to advance to a fabulous career and a rewarding and contributing life!

We also run a Mariners program for children aged between 11 and 13 years of age. There are also many opportunities for adults to help run programs for our ship, join our adult leaders committee, help renovate and maintain our donated fleet, organize

parties, events and trips – come see!

You do not need to have a child in the program to contribute.

If interested, contact Pauleen Ward Brown at 718-634-8222. To register to join the Sea Scouts – fill in the form and pay the annual fee. A Scout or Mariner will receive a welcome pack – a Sea Scout tee shirt, cap, bag and other goodies. All activities are covered by Scouting insurance and led by trained and vetted adult leaders.

Come and join us – see what we do and have some fun with us.

Chicken and Bulgur Salad with Avocado

By Sharon Feldman

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

• 1 cup bulgur (or coucous or rice)

• 1 cup boiling water

• 2 – 6 ounce boneless chicken breasts, with skin

• ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon grape seed oil

• Salt and freshly ground pepper

• ½ cup fresh orange juice

• ½ cup fresh shredded basil leaves

• 5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 2 large scallions, thinly sliced

• 2 avocados cut into 1-inch chunks

• 1 medium fennel bulb, (3/4 pound), cored and thinly sliced

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In heatproof bowl, cover the bulgur with the boiling water. Cover the bowl with a plate and let stand until the water has absorbed and the bulgur is tender, about 30 minutes.

On a rimmed baking sheet, coat the chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon of the grape seed oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 40-45 minutes, until golden, and temperature reaches 165 degrees. Discard the skin.

Slice the chicken ¼ inch thick.

In a small bowl, whisk the orange juice with the basil, lemon juice, scallions and remaining ¼ cup of grape seed oil; season with vinaigrette with salt and pepper.

In a bowl, toss the bulgur, chicken, avocados, fennel and toma-

Advanced Math & Science IV

toes with the vinaigrette; season with salt and pepper. Mound the salad onto plates and serve.

If bulgur or couscous or rice or potatoes are too heavy for this dish, use a bed of lettuce. The vinaigrette works nicely over arugula or romaine.

Our Mission

Our mission is to cultivate a STEAM learning environment strengthened by social-emotional and academic supports that incorporate our core values of P.R.I.D.E: Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, & Excellence to promote lifelong learning.

OPEN HOUSE DATES

Friday, April 7th at 6:00 p.m. (Virtual)

Saturday, April 22nd 10:00 a.m. (In-Person)

To RSVP to a virtual open house, email Ms. Jordan at ojordan11@charter.newvisions.org or call (646) 630-4476

All students have a 30-minute advisory period everyday that is credit bearing. Students will remain in the same advisory from grade 9 through 12 to ensure a strong connection between the school community and families.

We offer student supports that foster life skills beyond graduation; by way of courses focused in College & Career Readiness and with the support of two dedicated College & Career Counselors.

Each grade has a designated Assistant Principal and Guidance Counselor that supervises the social emotional, academic, and extracurricular growth of the cohort. The AP and counselor remain with your child from grades 9-12, ensuring that each family has a strong relationship with their school leaders.

Find us online! www.newvisions.org/applyAMS3 newvisionsams3

Our theme for March at Ocean Bliss Yoga is “surrender.” In this spirit, I invite you to try something. Take a deep breath in and hold it.

Eventually you will have to let go. Life requires an exhale for each inhale. This natural balancing cycle of filling up and emptying out is necessary in all areas of life. It is impossible to gain something new if you don’t have space for it.

In a culture obsessed with adding more, we seldom stop to think about what we can release. Consider the times you’ve been discontent.

Does your mind go to what it needs in order to achieve happiness, or does it honestly look at your life and recognize what in your routine, patterns, relationships, schedule, or environment is holding you back from feeling deeply happy and centered? Perhaps we are quicker to try adding things in for life improvement because letting go, especially of something that we’ve been holding onto for a while, can feel really scary and hard. Over time, our relationships, careers, homes, and habits become part of our identity. When a deep-seated knowing tells us that an aspect of our life is no longer serving us, it is the ego that grips on and creates the inner struggle that can often be experienced before ultimately surrendering.

What else makes the idea of letting go feel so scary?

On her podcast, Krista Williams says, “When letting go, we focus so much on the difficulty of the conversation. The conversation with our boss to quit, the conversation with our partner to leave, the conversation with our friend to establish boundaries, and not the feeling of how good it feels after you choose

yourself, after you make space, after you trust your intuition and speak your truth. In my life, the hardest conversations and decisions that I’ve ever made have led me to greater self-love than any self-care practice in the world.”

For me, Krista’s words provide an instantaneous shift in perspective. I can immediately remove some of the fear of surrendering by focusing not on the act of letting go, but rather on how expanded I will feel after releasing my grip. Also, if my surrender involves confrontation, I can remind myself that even if the other person is disappointed in the moment, my decision to let go is for the greater good of all parties involved. Staying so that I don’t hurt someone’s feelings is not serving them or me.

It is also important to recognize that anything we refuse to release has the potential to govern our future. Our decisions have real consequences! I don’t say this to provoke fear, but it is true. Letting go can be a process, and that’s ok. Awareness is always the first step, and it is a big one. The best we can do is honor our process, and like my good friend, mentor, and colleague Helen Kilgallen said, “If you can’t let go, just let be.”

This theme deserves so much more than a 550-word article, but for now I invite you to start to think about some smaller ways that you can let go to create space in your life and mind, and practice for surrendering the bigger things. To work more with this theme, join us at Ocean Bliss Yoga Studio for daily classes and monthly workshops. Sign up at oceanblissyoga. net.

Dear Enchantress,

I'm 38 years old and I hate dating. I wish I were better at it. I wish I could have fun. I always feel like I'm interviewing men, like I'm measuring up to something that I think they want, so I do the same to them. I'm doing the best I can. I dress up, I feel good, I think I look good, and I'm tired and frustrated after every date. I meet them on video when we connect and it seems OK, but mostly every time we are just planning our times and dates and locations together. I feel hopeless, and I really want to be in a relationship. I ask nice questions, I've read so many books and even when I go on second or third

By Shane Kulman

dates, we are sharing stories that I've already shared with them, and I'm like, how could that be? We're already bored and telling each other the same things we've already said???!?!?! Please help.

Dear Boring Betty,  Ugh, I feel for you. As I read this, I feel the sense of dread you must have, and the exhaustion of getting your hopes up and then feeling dropped into the depths of delusion. OK, let's lighten up this situation! You can do it. I help so many women that have done it! And I'll also say, it takes time, practice, and PLAY!  You are acting out of pressure, maybe it's

pressure you are putting on yourself, or pressure that people have put on you. It’s YUCK coming from that place, and putting that on another person will deflate any form of connection or spirit. It's a spirit squasher, a divine deflator, a BUZZ KILL. You can set your intentions, and you can have your hopes, and that's it, then show up and be. Stop DOING, stop pressing and stop interviewing. Overshare what is happening for you in the moment with this person. And if you are getting ready for this date, in a logical way, stop that. Instead, when you are getting ready, turn up your music, put on your party shirt and plan on having fun, NO MATTER WHAT.

Learning to turn yourself on is the best skill. You choose the place or the type of place, make it convenient for you, and don't spend too much time. Plan something that YOU LOVE afterwards, so you don't let the time drone on. You are a Queen, and you direct your life. Stay just as long as you genuinely want to, and it's OK to say, "no, thank you" for a second

date if you're just not feeling it!

You can turn this around, and when you feel yourself turning “interviewer” on the person sitting in front of you, tell him that! Tell him so that you can stop it. He may find it funny, or charming, and the best-case scenario, he will find it amazing that you shared it, and POOF, there is the connection and relaxation that always comes right after the spark of connection! Delight yourself Sister, you got this!

If you want to ask the Enchantress an advice question, email her at support@enchantedembodiment.com.

NYCHA in Nature

On Saturday, March 25 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., head to The Child Center of NY's Community Cornerstone (426 Beach 40th Street) to join JBRPC, NYC Audubon and the Fund for Public Housing for a free bird watching tour around Bayswater Park.

Pop-Up With a Cop

On Saturday, March 25 at 4 p.m., at the Hammels Playground on Beach 84th Street and Rockaway Beach Blvd., Neighborhood Coordination Sector Housing (Police officers Kim and Smith) will be available to address community concerns.

Rockaway Bird Outing

On Sunday, March 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., head to the RISE Center (58-03 Rockaway Beach Blvd.) to join for a spring birding tour, led by RISE's and NYC Plover Project's knowledgeable and experienced staff, to see

oystercatchers, plovers,

more.

100

terns and

PCT Community Council

On Wednesday, March 29 at 7 p.m., the 100th Precinct Community Council will meet on Zoom for its monthly meeting. Hear updates from the Precinct and address concerns. For Zoom access info, email vp100pctcc@gmail. com

Morning

Moves at RISE

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

JASA Weekly Yoga

On Mondays at 11 a.m. and Fridays at 11:30 a.m., adults 60+ are welcome to JASA Rockaway Park Older Adult Center (106-20 Shore Front Parkway) for weekly Yoga with Cynthia. Open to Adults 60 +. To register, call: 718-6343044.

JASA Weekly Arts

On Thursdays at 10 a.m., adults 60+ are welcome to JASA Rockaway Park

Older Adult Center (106-20 Shore Front Parkway) for weekly painting/ arts and crafts. Let your creativity be free! To RSVP and for more details, call: 718-634-3044.

Core on the Floor

On Mondays from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., head to the RISE Center (58-03 Rockaway Beach Blvd.) for a free core and lower body class with Ann Fosteris of Fitness to You. All are welcome! Bring a mat. Masks required inside RISE.

Chair Movement Class

On Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., head to Temple Beth-El (201 Beach 121st Street) and breathe, balance, move and stretch in this chair yoga class led by Christine Walker. Donation based.

Cardio Punch

On Saturdays at 11 a.m., head to Seaside Library (116-15 Rockaway Beach Blvd.) to join for a total body, non-contact workout fit for all levels. Punch, hook, and kick to motivating, high-energy music that progress into heart-pumping combinations. Through April 1.

Aging Mastery Program

Starting in April, Kingsborough Community College will be providing this free writing workshop online on Zoom for NYS residents 50 and up. Basic course at 7 p.m. on Mondays starting April 3 and advanced course at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays starts on April 5. Send registration information to susan.lavin@kbcc.cuny.edu with name, age, address, phone and course choice.

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

LEGAL NOTICES

Linmar’s Educational Tutoring Center LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/7/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 223-36 106th Ave., Queens Village, NY 11429. General Purpose.

CURAM HOME CARE, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/20/23. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, c/o Kathleen Hayden, 88-57 Rutledge Avenue, Glendale, NY 11385. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

DEL BX NY LLC filed Arts. of Org. with the Sect'y of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/19/2022. Office: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: The LLC, 72-24 Loubet St., Forest Hills, NY, 11375. Purpose: any lawful act.

Notice of Formation of SHERRI JOY COACHING LLC, Articles of Organization Filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/13/23. Office location: Queens, NY. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to SHERRI JOY COACHING, 3220 35th Street, Astoria NY 11106. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of BABANIUBI LLC, Articles of Organization Filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 08/12/2022. Office location: Queens, NY. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to BABANIUBI LLC, 137-11 32ND AVE #2W FLUSHING NY 11354. Any lawful purpose.

AIRA REAL ESTATE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 05/22/2019. Office location: QUEENS County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 104-60 QUEENS BLVD # 20C, FOREST HILLS, NY, UNITED STATES, 11375. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Follow Your Roots LLC Articles of Org. filed with NY Sec. of State (SSNY) on 01/24/2023. Office in Queens Co. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 6223 60th Drive Maspeth, NY 11378. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Eun Young Cho, DMD, PLLC filed w/ SSNY on 2/6/23. Office: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 35-35 149th St., #206, Flushing, NY 11354. Purpose: Dentistry.

Stonze LLC filed w/ SSNY on 2/21/23. Office: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 21846 82nd Ave., Queens Village, NY 11427. Purpose: any lawful.

Notice of formation of Limited Liability Company (“LLC”). Name: 5 Bay Street IF Owner LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (“SSNY”) on February 15, 2023. N.Y. office location: Queens County. The SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to 5 Bay Street IF Owner LLC, c/o Triangle Equities, 30-56 Whitestone Expressway, Flushing, New York 11354. Purpose/character of LLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity.

TERRA CONSTRUCT MGMT LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/10/2023. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 41-63 71st Street, Woodside, NY 11377. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Answer:

86 (40 ÷ 1/2 = 80, 80+6 = 86)

display your cell number on the dashboard. This has been well received, as it reduces the stress level for the driver of the "blocked" car.  As the TV commercial says "Consideration: Pass it On.” Hang in there, Sean McVeigh, one can only hope there are some "double parking" converts out there.

Kevin Dowler

More Road Rage

Dear Editor:

Unsafe Shopping

Dear Editor:

Once again, both entrances/exits to the Key Food shopping plaza are getting dangerous. There are metal pieces missing from the CVS side and the side where Popeye’s chicken is…Also, close to where the adult center is located, there are several large holes in the concrete that are becoming craters!

Could the Rockaway Times look into contacting the owners of this development before someone gets injured? Thank you.

Cheryl Thompson

Road Rage

Dear Editor:

Road Rage (In response to McVeighing In: Road Rage) Sean McVeigh, I feel your pain every time I drive through "that crinkled tube of toothpaste" aka B.129th St. The sense of entitlement of the "double parkers" who stay in their cars but refuse to move to an open area when it becomes available is incredulous.  For the "double parkers" who must leave their cars, why not try what I do, and

(In response to McVeighing In: Road Rage) Loved your article in the March 9 Rock Times and felt a need to add: what about the one who double parks adjacent to an already double parked car on 129th? Talk about no common sense and backed up traffic with nowhere to go.

Also, I was thinking "Sean's Shore & More" when you went with McVeighing In. Good Luck with the Times and keep up the good work.

Coleen Mainieri

PAW PRINTS byTerriEstes THE CORGI

There are two breeds of Corgis recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. These two breeds are very similar but have distinct differences and come from different ancestors. Both are in the herding group. The Cardigan is slightly taller, standing 10.5” to 12” at the shoulders to the Pembroke’s 10” to 12”. Cardigans come in a variety of colors, while the more popular Pembroke comes in the traditional fawn or sable with white,

or black and white. The coat of a Cardigan is longer and thicker than that of the Pembroke. Cardigans have a long tail, while Pembrokes have a naturally bobbed tail, or a docked tail. Both breeds are intelligent and affectionate. Cardigans are generally more reserved, while Pembrokes are more outgoing and friendly. Both types of Corgis have short powerful legs, a long heavy body with a large foxlike head and long upright ears. Corgi in Welsh means “dwarf dog.” These short little dogs were bred

to herd cattle. They are considered excellent working dogs and highly intelligent.

Queen Elizabeth II favored the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and owned more than 30 of them during her reign. Her passion for the breed started at the age of 18 years old when she was given her first Corgi, Susan, as a gift. She stopped breeding Corgis in 2016, citing her ad -

vancing age and concerns for their well-being after she was no longer able to care for them. The last of her Corgis, a dog named Willow, passed away in 2018.

While the Corgi was bred to work, they have stepped into the family pet role quite nicely. They seek attention from everyone they meet and generally behave well with other dogs and children. They also make great watchdogs because of their alert nature and their “big dog” bark. However, like any breed, the Corgi has specific needs and characteristics that potential owners should be aware of. For example, they are herding dogs and may try to herd small children or other family pets in the household. They also need mental stimulation to prevent boredom. Corgis are often referred to as “Velcro dogs” because they love to stick close to their owners and be involved in all aspects of family life. So, is there a Pembroke or Cardigan Welsh Corgi in your future?

Rockaway Times Photo Contest

Start sending your photos now! Final Deadline is Noon Friday, April 14th Participants

1) Ferry Photos

All photos must be high resolution and must be submitted to Contest@Rockawaytimes.com, along with your name and what category you’re entering. Photos submitted to other email addresses will not be considered.

Selected Photos will be displayed in poster-size along the boardwalk this summer.

*The Rockaway Times may use any photos as they see fit, including for The Rockaway Times Summer Guide. Photo credit will be given.

Ted Gibbons

Life With Our “Artistic” Child

By Kami-Leigh Agard

Autism—A Developmental Disorder or Just A Neurological Difference?

By Kami-Leigh Agard

Is autism a difference, diagnosis, disorder, disease or disability? Sadly, these “D-words” have prompted a contentious divide in the autism community, opening Pandora's box with far-reaching implications. The verbal “higher-functioning” autistic self-advocates, many of whom are supporters of the “neurodiversity,”

movement, assert that the “condition” represents a neurological difference and a disability that should be accommodated, embraced and even celebrated by society, rather than prevented or cured. Now, juxtapose this view with voices in the medical community and parents of autistic children with severe traits (limited (or no) language, minimal daily life skills, self-harm and Intellectual Disability), who

view autism as a formidable disorder and developmental disability that necessitates intense treatment and services. As stated in a 2019 Washington Post article: “Which word someone uses to define autism is more than an intellectual exercise. It affects how the public views people on the spectrum and their quality of life, as well as access to job placement programs, housing and health care.” And, I would add, also the future of autism research. Personally, I believe the general medical diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are too broad, leaving individuals with more severe autistic traits overlooked.

Since f ounding R ockaway Beach Autism Families, meeting more individuals on the spectrum, I have witnessed the vastness of the spectrum. This is why I side with the camp that asserts autism is a disorder and disability that necessitates research into treatment and services that could alleviate the more severe autistic traits. Note, I did not state, “cure,” or “eliminate.” My daughter’s autistic nuances add to the beauty of what makes her special, yet every day, we work to find any means that could help her attain some semblance of independence.

As stated by Amy Lutz, a parent and founding member of the National Council on Severe Autism (NCSA), the first advocacy organization to exclusively focus on the needs of autistic people who require higher levels of support, “There’s a wide abyss between someone who is very mildly impaired and someone who is severely impaired with intellectual disability and different kinds of comorbid conditions… There’s no one speaking directly for these families.” Many NCSA parents have protested that the neurodiversity focus of higher-functioning autistic self-advocates drowns out the needs of autistic people who cannot speak for themselves.

However, not all higher-functioning autistic individuals buy into celebrating autism as just a difference, not a disorder. Tom Clements, a British, mildly autistic man with a severely autistic brother, wrote an article in The

Guardian, asserting that the fashion for celebrating neurodiversity ignores those with severe autism. His article generated tremendous backlash, with some even accusing Clements of painting autistic people as “burdens, toxic and catastrophes."

Now, as a parent advocate, I see many positives in the neurodiversity movement—such as building autism awareness, acceptance and accommodations for services, employment, education and other opportunities. However, as pointed out by Manuel Casanova, professor of biomedical sciences at the University of South Carolina, the loudest voices in the neurodiversity camp are deflecting focus on the needs of severely autistic individuals. “If these opinions ultimately sway public opinion, it might end up hurting research, and delivery of services to those people who most need them.”

This is why I agree with Clements that the medical diagnoses of autism are too broad. “It has become apparent, not just to scientists but to many in the community, that autism needs dividing into separate conditions, starting with the reintroduction of Asperger syndrome, as an important differentiator between mild and severe variants… It’s high time that the lower end of the autism spectrum was treated with the seriousness it deserves. The wellbeing of some of society’s most vulnerable people depends on it.”

Join RBAF as we host Rockaway’s first-ever Walk for Autism on the boardwalk—Sunday, April 23, at 11 a.m.! Note, the walk route has been revised to START POINT: Beach 96th Street & the boardwalk/ END POINT: Beach 126th Street & the boardwalk. All welcome! We’ll have giveaways, plus tee shirts for sale! After the Walk, join us at RBQ (97-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd.) for an afternoon of live music and fun!  Register in person on the day of the Walk or online: www.rockawaybeachautismfamilies.org. For further info, visit: Rockaway Beach Autism Families on Facebook/ Instagram or email: kami@rockawaybeachautismfamilies.org. Hope to see you there!

ST. CAMILLUS / ST. VIRGILIUS BASKETBALL MVPs OF THE WEEK

The St. Camillus/ St. Virgilius basketball program is underway with 150 local kids from 4th grade to 8th grade, playing in the Girls, Junior Boys and Senior Boys leagues. Here are some standout players this week.

Olivia is one of the most dominating players in the league. She wreaks havoc on the defensive side. Tearing down rebounds and constantly causing turnovers. Then on the offensive side, her power drive to the basket makes her virtually unstoppable. This week she scored half of the team's total 30 points.

Silas led his team to an exciting three-point victory. This was a nail biter from start to finish. Silas not

only led his team in scoring 18 of his team's 36 points. More importantly, he kept attacking the basket at the end of the game and the other team continued to foul him. Silas calmly knocked down six out of seven foul shots in the final minutes to ice the game.

We had two players in the Senior Boys League that were equally important to their teams, so we're making co-MVPs this week.

Peter was the general of his team

SPOTTED: Nashville

in the most exciting game of the night. He handled the ball and basically directed the entire offense. He not only directed the team, but he also led the team in scoring by using his power moves on the inside and dropping bombs from behind the three-point line. He led his team to a one-point victory, scoring 21 of his team's total 41 points.

Brendan played in the same game as Peter, and he was an abso-

lute dynamo for his team. He just kept making one big shot after another. None bigger than the shot he made at the end of the game. With nine seconds to go and his team down by two, Brendan made a fall away three-pointer with a defender right in his face that hit nothing but net and sent the crowd into a frenzy. Everyone thought that would be the game winner, but the other team had just enough time to score one last shot and win by one.

“We owe a lot of our success to the Rockaway Times and the advertising. The weekly paper delivered for FREE to every doorstep in the community was the best advertising we could have asked for.

COUNTLESS people have come in to our business over the years saying they saw our specials in the Times. For that, we are EXTREMELY GRATEFUL.”

Olivia Teich Girls League

Silas Porcella Junior Boys League

Peter McElhinney Senior Boys League

Brendan Hayden Senior Boys League

Athena may be the goddess of wisdom, war and art, but Tedd Hevlicek must be the god of good fashion sense. Tedd managed to outshine Athena at the Parthenon while on a recent trip to Nashville.

Ask the DOC

By Peter Galvin, MD

Brain Tumors

Statistics say that 85,000 individuals in the U.S. are diagnosed with a primary brain tumor (originates in the brain, not spread from outside of the brain) each year, of which about 29% are malignant. Tumors are classified as malignant based upon several factors, including microscopic appearance, rate of growth, and ability to spread to distant areas of the body. Although statistically 71% of brain tumors are benign (meningioma being the most common), in reality there is no such thing as a benign brain tumor. This is because the brain is enclosed within a space that is non-expandable

(the skull) so that anything that grows within the brain must push healthy brain tissue aside, thereby causing (sometimes irreversible) brain damage. About 80% to 85% of malignant brain tumors are gliomas, of which 49% of those are glioblastomas. Gliomas diffusely infiltrate the brain tissue and usually do not occur as a solid mass, which is why they are usually not amenable to surgical removal. The incidence of glioblastoma increases after age 40 and peaks in adults aged 75 to 84 years. Meningiomas are by far the most common brain tumor, and over 90% are “benign,” yet still cause symp-

toms because of cranial space issues.

Less than 5% of adults with malignant brain tumor report a family history of brain tumors or have a cancer predisposition syndrome. However, based on genetic research, the contribution of heredity to brain tumor formation is likely higher than 5%.

Prior exposure to ionizing radiation to the brain, such as during treatment for another cancer such as childhood leukemia, is a risk factor. It has been established that exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic radiation fields (i.e., cell phone) is not a risk factor. This was proven by the UK Million Women Study which found no difference in relative risk of gliomas, meningiomas, pituitary tumors, or acoustic neuromas based upon cellphone use. As far as brain tumor symptoms go, one would expect to find headache a universal occurrence, but headache is reported in only about 50% of those with newly diagnosed brain tumors. Other symptoms depend on the location and speed of growth of the tumor, for example rapidly growing tumors may raise intracranial pressure causing nausea, vomiting and fatigue, frontal tumors may cause personality changes, and

other tumors may cause a myriad of neurological symptoms including seizures (75% of those with gliomas have seizures).

Diagnosing brain tumors usually involves contrast-enhanced MRI scanning. The IV contrast usually enhances the image of the tumor and often shows cerebral edema (swelling) surrounding the tumor. In order to establish the diagnosis, a brain biopsy is commonly required, even if the tumor is deemed to be non-resectable. The biopsy is required to grade the tumor which helps establish the prognosis. Because most brain tumors cause cerebral edema, corticosteroids are usually prescribed; Dexamethasone is preferred due to its long half-life and low incidence of side effects. For non-resectable tumors, whole brain irradiation is given along with chemotherapy. Despite many advances in treatment, five-year survival rate of some brain tumors remains dismal. For example, the five-year survival rate of glioblastoma with treatment is less than 10%. Thankfully, the incident rate of primary malignant brain tumor is low at seven per 100,000 individuals. Please direct questions and comments to editor@rockawaytimes.com

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023

ROCKAWAY GOOD TIMES

By Kami-Leigh Agard

Readers! Spring has sprung! And with the days longer and brighter, the feverish anticipation for summer is at a high pitch. So, spring your Rockaway Good Times crawl with our weekly entertainment roundup below!

LIVE MUSIC

THURSDAY, March 23

7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

It’s almost Friday! So, why be moody when you can shake your booty and belt out songs with live karaoke band, Dan and Rich, at Tap That!

111-04 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

FRIDAY, March 24 7 p.m.

This will be the Fridayest Friday you’ll ever Fri-yay! ‘Cause with Wine with Sue rollin’ into Harbor Light, make sure you have the weekend to recover!

129-18 Newport Ave.

FRIDAY, March 24 7 p.m.

Rock-a-way to Breezy as Chris Warren ushers in his acoustic classic rock jam at The BayHouse.

500 Bayside Drive, Breezy Point

FRIDAY, March 24 7 p.m.

Do as 'Patsy does' and jam with him and The Heavyset at Rockaway Tiki Bar.

67-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

FRIDAY, March 24

8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Back at Bar Marseille is Kerry Kearney & Friends performing their sizzling blend of roots and blues.

190 Beach 69th Street

FRIDAY, March 24 9 p.m.

Back in Irish Town is punk-influenced Folk ‘n’ Irish band—The Gobshites—paintin’ Rogers green!

203 Beach 116th Street

FRIDAY, March 24 9 p.m.

Grab your besties and kickoff your weekend at the Belle Harbor Yacht Club above “Parr” with Greg Parr jammin’ all your favorites from the 60s to the present, plus originals.

533 Beach 126th Street

FRIDAY, MARCH 24

Kick off the weekend on a Breezy note with rock/soul/pop/folk/country acoustic mix master—Frank Persico at Kennedy’s. Call (718) 945-0202 for showtime and reservations.

406 Bayside, Breezy Point

SATURDAY, March 25

7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

With spring finally here, craving some Solshyne? Well, get your fix of Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers and more hippie grooves as the band commandeers Rockaway Brewing Co.

415 Beach 72nd Street

SATURDAY, March 25

7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Don’t miss Rockaway’s #1 party band, Wine with Sue, making their debut at Tap That!

111-04 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

SATURDAY, March 25

8 p.m. to midnight

Head midtown to boulevard barbecue spot, RBQ, as Harry McDonald’s Locals Rule band whips in with their classic rock jam.

97-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

SATURDAY, March 25

9 p.m.

With two-day, back-to-back performances—last chance to get ‘Irished’ this weekend with The Gobshites at Rogers. 203 Beach 116th Street

SATURDAY, March 25

Enjoy a Breezy treat with a fine dining and music experience with JoJo at Kennedy’s. Call (718) 945-0202 for showtime and reservations.

406 Bayside, Breezy Point

SUNDAY, March 26 4 p.m.

Did you know The Sugar Bowl is back open for the season? This afternoon, don’t miss Magic Bones rockin’ the Breezy mainstay.

15 Bedford Ave., Breezy Point

SUNDAY, March 26 5 p.m.

Tonight! The ladies of The Pointers spice up The BayHouse with a sizzling retro rock and pop salute!

500 Bayside Drive, Breezy Point

SUNDAY, March 26

5 p.m.

Bid adieu to the weekend with the stirring voice of singer/songwriter, Gerald Bair, at Rogers!

203 Beach 116th Street

SUNDAY, March 26

Enjoy another Funday! Sunday! with Greg Parr at Harbor Light! For showtime and reservations, call: (718) 474-2202 or follow @harborlightpub on Instagram.

129-18 Newport Ave.

ONGOING

Tunesy TUESDAYS

7 p.m.

Squid fans, if you’re in Rincón, PR—a.k.a. Rockaway South—don’t miss Squid & Friends' squidarrific music residency at Nacho Libre.

Carr 115. kn 11.6, Rincon, PR

Wine WEDNESDAYS

7 p.m.

Channel your inner Spice Girl at Rockaway Tiki’s karaoke night.

67-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Bask in an evening of rhythmic storytelling with Ireland’s Cork-born renowned folk songsmith, Niall Connolly at Sayra’s.

91-11 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

Thirsty THURSDAYS

8 p.m.

DJ Baroque boasts one of the most enviable record collections known and unknown within the funk and soul scene, so tonight, don’t miss him spinning at The Rose Den.

174 Beach 116th Street

Selfie SATURDAYS

7 p.m. until closing

Elevate your weekend fun at The Rockaway Hotel’s rooftop with live DJ, craft cocktails, lite bites, and inspiring ocean and Manhattan city-line views.

108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive

THEATER

RTC PRESENTS “CABARET”

Just two weekends left!

Get your ticket and see what everyone is talking about! Don’t miss The Rockaway Theatre Company’s first show of the season: “Cabaret.” One of Broadway’s greatest productions, “Cabaret,” makes audiences an offer they might want to refuse—an invitation to Berlin’s sordid Kit Kat Klub, on the

eve of Hitler’s rise to power in Weimar Germany. Based on Christopher Isherwood’s “Berlin Stories,” the show depicts the interlocking stories of a cabaret singer, a writer from America, and the denizens of Berlin.

Show dates: March 24, 25, 26, 31, April 1 and 2. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. For tickets, visit: www. rockawaytheatrecompany.org.

T4 Post Theatre Building, Fort Tilden

SPECIAL MENTIONS

RBQ PRESENTS PSYCHIC LUNCH

SATURDAY, March 25

11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

With March ushering in Spring, find out what spring-cleaning needs to done in your life, and perhaps, some awaiting love connections—at RBQ’s Psychic Lunch with a one-on-one private reading with one of New York’s leading psychics. Also, included at just $75 per person, enjoy RBQ’s supreme three-course lunch. For reservations, call: (718) 318-7427, and for additional info, visit: www.espconnection.com/

97-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

THE ROCKAWAY HOTEL PRESENTS

BUENA ONDA COLLECTIVE—ENTANGLED INTIMACIES

SATURDAY, March 25

12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Buena Onda Collective beckons you to “Entangled Intimacies”—a performance and art workshop that “reveals the invisible circuitry, shared evolution, and cosmic ancestry through a multi-species micro symphony of love.” Weave this history in an engaging afternoon of printmaking, bio-sonification and myco-intimacies with fellow fungi. Free! Reservations required. To sign up and for more info, visit: https:// www.therockawayhotel.com/happenings 108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive

SAYRA’S WINE BAR MARCH SUPPER CLUB

SATURDAY, March 25

5:30 p.m.

Sayra’s Wine Bar Supper Club is the toast of the town, and tickets are still available. Food gourmands—be immersed in this thoughtfully-curated four-course feast, divinely paired with a selected wine. To view the menu and more info, visit: @sayraswinebar on Instagram. Tickets are $75 per person. To reserve your seat or table, email: sayrawinebar@gmail.com

91-11 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

Got info on local live music, arts and more? Email: editor@rockawaytimes.com

LOCAL COLOR: READERS SEND IN THEIR PIX

We might be a little biased, but we think some of the best photographers in the world live in Rockaway. Here are some shots that readers shared with us this week. Send your photos (limit to 2 per week) to mail@rockawaytimes.com and we’ll do our best to print them (space permitting). We do receive more than we can print.

Tommy Share

Ken Lavery

Stephen Ternlund

Peggy Grennan

Raisa Saratovsky

Paul Rayder

Kevin Dowler

MORE LOCAL COLOR: READERS SEND IN THEIR PIX

We might be a little biased, but we think some of the best photographers in the world live in Rockaway. Here are some shots that readers shared with us this week. Send your photos (limit to 2 per week) to mail@rockawaytimes.com and we’ll do our best to print them (space permitting). We do receive more than we can print.

Joe OBrien

Linda Anthonijsz

Tom Panzella

Gynnette Lopez

Janet Donohue

Andrzej Zbrog

Mark Eidinger

Name: _________________________________________________

Rockaway Word Search

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JACKHURLEYHKLGWHET

XMZSMIKEJOHNSONBTB

ELLENMAYBANKSFIREU

IGWDWJUGRNVAQRCCRE

UMRRDBQPATBRADYPSV

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YETRACYMCELHINNEYX

Findthefollowingwordsinthepuzzle. Wordsarehiddenand

BRENDANLAWLER

ELLENMAYBANKS

JACKHURLEY

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JOHNO'CONNOR MIKEJOHNSON PATBRADY ROBPETERS

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BY THE SEA

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Arverne’s own boutique wine and craft spirits shop, specializing in small production wineries and distilleries. Expand your palate with us!

WE DELIVER - ORDER ONLINE!

Let

ROCKAWAY BEACH BOULEVARD

between Beach 67th and 69th Streets Arverne by the Sea Tides Complex directly across from the Beach 67th Street A train stop

Store Hours: Monday-Saturday Noon - 10PM Sunday Noon-9pm Follow us on INSTAGRAM @vinobythesea

Respecting the Privacy of Wrestlers

By Eric Jayden

So, it's been an interesting week in the world of pro wrestling, so let's get to it!

The WWE has announced two more inductees for this year's Hall of Fame. The Great Muta is the second pro wrestler announced (which I’m happy to say I predicted), and for the celebrity side of the Hall of Fame, Andy Kaufman has been an-

nounced. Andy Kaufman is best known for the TV sitcom "Taxi," and made his mark on professional wrestling by having a feud with Jerry "The King" Lawler.

It has been reported that former WWE Superstar Lince Dorado is scheduled to make an appearance on IMPACT Wrestling. This will be Lince Dorado’s second stint with IMPACT, and he is scheduled to face off against X-Division Champion,

Trey Miguel, at IMPACT PPV "Sacrifice."

AEW Heavyweight Champion MJF will be making a special appearance for the company that he trained and started his pro wrestling career with: "Create A Pro”. The company has a homecoming show on May 13, 2023, which will also feature other AEW Superstars such as Kris Statlander, Bear Bronson, Max Caster and Mark Sterling. The show will take place at the All Sportz Melville, in Melville, New York.

Recently, the welfare and safety of professional wrestlers has come up, with many incidents reported of wrestlers arriving at airports, and being followed and harassed by fans. Many of these fans were seeking to get autographs on merchandise, in an effort to resell it for a profit. Some wrestlers have reported aggressive fans following them even after they have gotten into their rental cars. The WWE has recently brought this issue up for discussion and is reportedly not happy about these incidents.

We are not going to have a Question of the Week, but instead I'm going to give commentary on the issue of wrestlers being stalked and hassled by fans at airports at all hours of the night. Listen, pro wrestlers are people like you and me. They have a job, which is to perform for a particular wrestling company and that's how they make a living. Just like any other people, wrestlers like to have their privacy and there are way too many fans out there that feel they can take advantage and harass a wrestler for an autograph so that they can then sell for a profit. There is a line that shouldn't be crossed, and that's when a fan’s actions become harassing. Once you cross this line, you should be reported to authorities, or have enough common sense to realize that pro wrestlers do not owe you anything. They do their job and entertain, for which you pay. Beyond that, please respect the privacy of the pro wrestlers because, once again, they are people just like you and me.

If you have a question or comment, please send it to eavil183@yahoo. com, and have a great weekend!

All Major Insurance Companies Accepted