Rockaway Times 4 2 15 by Rockaway Times

Times

the

Rockaway !

The Local Weekly

" "

O R N

I E D

since 2014

VOL. 1, NO.41 - THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

AY W KA

FREE

MA please take one

The Rockaway Times Wins

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inside? Build It Back Audit

Burned Boulevard SOLD

NY PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARD

Chris Mullin Returns

Page 2

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

The Rockaway Times

The Rockaway Times Wins Burnout Zone Gets New Owner – Hopes For Boulevard NY Press Association Award

contributed their regularly excellent work while Bob Hardt, Luiza Baker, Jen Poyant, Sebastian Danese, and Joan Diehl gave the edition a professional tone it wouldn’t have had otherwise. We were lucky to get these talented writers on board. The look of the edition no doubt caught the judges’ attention. The cover, style and headlines were the work of Erika Farrell, an amazing artist who poured her heart into it. Richner Communications, the company which prints our paper (and more), is not named in the award but helped us earn it. Trite but true: we couldn’t have done it without them. Even our advertisers got mentioned in the award remarks: “Excellent supporting advertising.” Their ads showed a sensitivity that was a perfect fit for a Sandy retrospective. Of course, our readers deserve a share of the award. You’ve cheered us all along the way and it’s always meant the world!

Fire destroyed more than 10 buildings along Rockaway Beach Boulevard as chest high water and simultaneous emergencies kept fire companies from reaching the burning structures the night of October 29, 2012. Rubble-strewn lots marked the area for months. Eventually the lots were cleared and fenced in. Individual property owners then faced the dilemma of rebuilding, selling or leaving the lots vacant. And then a plan was hatched. Eight owners of nine contiguous lots joined together to sell the property as one large parcel figuring it would be an easier and more lucrative path. On Monday, the plan was executed as the group sold to a local resident, Dino Tomassetti, of the the Laquila Group. Laquila counts among its clients: NYU, The Port Authority, Forest City Ratner, CUNY, and Goldman Sachs. For Rockaway people with hopes for the parcel, the Laquila website says, the group “has favored the approach of quality over quantity, preferring to focus on a few projects at a time over many.” Norman Eren of Ang Carpet directly across the street was pleased with the news. “I hope what they build will uplift the whole area and bring a better quality of life. I’m sure

it will.” One source said the plans were for “mixed use.” The selling price for the nine lots was $2,150,000 with owners splitting the money based on each owner’s lot square footage. As we were going to press Tomasetti called The Rockaway Times and said the plans call for a 54 family residence, two commercial units, and two community-based (medical e.g.) units. There will be underground parking and the residential units, all rentals, will be built as affordable housing under the 421A tax abatement program which far precedes the de Blasio administration. He said there will be “ no subsidized tenants.” Groundbreaking is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2015 with a target open date of 18 months.

00883RT

Just four months after its first publication, The Rockaway Times produced a Sandy Special 2 Year Anniversary edition, a collaborative effort by staff and some talented community members. This past weekend the effort was recognized by the New York Press Association (NYPA) at its annual spring convention in Saratoga, N.Y. as the Sandy edition earned Second Place in the Better Newspaper Contest (Special Section editions category). The NYPA has 378 newspaper members across New York State. Executive Director Michelle Rea said 171 newspapers entered the contest and more than 3000 entries were submitted to the contest which included a wide variety of categories. When calling out The Rockaway Times award winning entry, the presenter said of the edition, “Excellent coverage of a memorable event along with impact on area. Excellent supporting advertising. Great team effort.” Great team effort, indeed. We asked several talented locals to contribute stories and reflections of the fateful event and their stirring words helped make the Sandy 2 Year Anniversary Special special indeed. Bianca Fortis and Katie McFadden

The Rockaway Times

Page 3

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

WE WILL BEAT ALL COMPETITORS PRICES! SOFA & LOVE SEAT Brown, Red, Gray

TABLE AND 4 CHAIRS

24999

RECLINER SOFA LOVESEAT

69999

TWIN BED

799

SOFA BED

39999

5 PIECE BEDROOM SET

8 Colors to choose from

4 colors Available

99999

4 Colors Available *Mattress extra

17999

TWIN BUNK BED

4 Colors Available Mattress extra

69999

SECTIONAL

(Brown, Red, Gray)

299

RECLINERS

& UP

14999

SOLID WOOD TABLE $29995

39999

SOFA BED

QUEEN PILLOWTOP MATTRESS & BOX SPRING

with 4 chairs

39999

Sit, Store, Sleep

JUMBO WARDROBE 72” H x 36” W x 18” D Available in 4 Colors

SOLID WOOD

399

Available in 3 Colors. Mattress Extra

199

3 BEDS & $599 3 DRAWERS Mattress Extra

21/2” POST

199

Mattress Extra

BOULEVARD FURNITURE & BEDDING 114-19 ROCKAWAY BEACH BLVD. (CORNER BEACH 115TH) Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am - 7pm • Sunday 9am - 6pm

00853RT

718-945-7500

Page 4

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Get Your Asana Into The Hot Room Today!

By Kevin Boyle

Spring Schedule 7:30 am 9:00 am

Mon 60

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat 60

Sun 60

5:00 pm 6:00 pm

6:30 pm 8:00 pm

60 60

Reduce Stress • Lose Weight • Increase Flexibility • Heal Injuries

YIN YOGA WORKSHOP Saturday, April 18th• 12 - 1:30pm $25 prepaid / $35 at the door if there’s Space

2 Weeks Unlimited Yoga

New Students Only

181 B. 116th St., 2nd fl. (above laundromat)

Rockaway Park, NY 11694 • 718.945.YOGA (9642)

www.HotYogaRockawayBeach.com • Info@HotYogaRockawayBeach.com

0088 RT

STAY & PLAY CLASS

Tuesday, April 7th • 7:15 - 8:00pm

Boardwalk PIZZE

RIA • RESTAURANT

AT ARVERNE BY THE SEA - 68-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd -

347-619-8002

FREE DELIVERY OPEN 7 DAYS

Mon-Thurs 10-10 • Fri-Sat 10-11 • Sun 11-10

2 OFF 10 OFF

Any Pie With This Ad

Any Catering Order

*Not to be combined with any other offer *Excludes Pizzettes

With This Ad

(pick-up only)

Pick Up or Free Delivery

00830RT

NOW Delivering To Breezy Point & Broad Channel

Generational The term “generation gap” sprung up in 1960s. All those babies born in the 1950s were basically some mutants that grew into bigger mutants who weren’t understood by the Greatest Generation. I’m not saying mutants are a bad thing. But some of those mutants did utter one of the sillier lines in recorded history: don’t trust anyone over 30. I suppose the flip side to that line might be only trust teenagers. Ha. At your peril. Anyway, baby boomers have mutated again, this time into parents and whoa, even grandparents. Now they say don’t trust anyone over 90 but they’re just talking about the older generation driving or leaving the stove on. The generation gap these days is not nearly as wide as it was when things were groovy, far out, and outta sight. The problem is some of the older generation (parents today) think they’re part of the younger generation (the new mutants). But that’s a topic for another day. If you’re a normal (I know, what’s normal? --a topic for another day, too) adult you’re supposed to be puzzled by the fads and behaviors of the new mutants. You might not get the music, piercings, or the posting of personal stuff online. You’re not supposed to get it. You’re over 30 and your taste can’t be trusted. But every now and then a generational thing will pop up that makes the most accepting old timer say what?! Somehow the topic of getting punched in the face came up. A regular topic among intellectuals.

A young lad, still young enough to be trusted, recalled the party he and his friends threw a couple of years back. I think he said there were a couple hundred people. The young lad told a friend that it was a costume party. So it turned out there was only one person in a full pirate’s costume to come to the party with 200 others in regular clothes. As the party was underway, the young lad was tapped on the shoulder. As he turned around, his face met a fist that sent him to the floor. Payback for the prank was a sucker punch in the face. The lad, dazed like never before, accepted it as a normal response. And chalked it up to getting what he deserved. No! The older generation cannot compute. You do not get a punch in the face for telling a friend he can come as Jack Sparrow or Bluebeard the Pirate to a party. The pirate should drink his rum while figuring out a better prank to pull on his friend. In the old days you deserved a punch in the face for throwing a snowball with ice in it at somebody. If you undercut someone’s legs, or low bridge them on a basketball court, you better expect the guy to come up swinging. Maybe my prank pulling young lad is not representative of his generation. Not every hippy was a revolutionary, after all. I hope he and his 200 friends who think he got what he deserved are the only 200 believers of such justice. But you know what they’re saying now? Don’t trust anyone under 30 in a pirate costume.

Join Our Email List and Get The Whole Rockaway Times Delivered Every Thursday By Email Drop us a line at Mail@RockawayTimes.com

The Rockaway Times

Page 5

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

With Harry Reid retiring, it looks like Chuck Schumer is going to be Leader in the Senate (Majority or Minority will depend on the next election in 2016). The more powerful Chuck gets, the better. It will be crucially important to have someone leading the Senate who knows about flood insurance and coastal protection. The National Flood Insurance Program will be up for reauthorization in 2017. Chuck in charge can’t hurt. ***** RFP warning. An RFP stands for Request For Proposals. The City has issued an RFP so that ferry operators can submit proposals about how they would operate ferry service under the City’s 2017 plan. RFPs are often little more than a public relations ploy to show people government is “doing something.” RFPs do not mean something actually will happen. 2017 is an election year. ***** Most of you are reading this the old fashioned way, in the newspa-

per. A growing number are finding us online. Last week’s story about Rockaway Taco closing was viewed 7000 times in one day, an all time record for Rockawaytimes.com The same week, the website passed a milestone as we passed 250,000 views since we opened the door. Thanks for helping us grow. Our full version of the paper is now being mailed to more than 1500 people every week. You can get yours by joining our email list. Sign up at Rockawaytimes.com or send an email to mail@RockawayTimes.com ***** The fastest-growing county in New York between July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2014, was Rockland County, whose population rose 0.89 percent over the period. Rockland County was followed by Orange County (0.81 percent), Queens County (0.755 percent), Bronx County (0.753 percent) and Kings County (0.74 percent). We don’t think the Lonely Planet has Rockland or Orange County as a top destination. But Queens? Yep.

***** A few days after police told us an old telephone scam is making the rounds again, we got a call. The call, from 347-896-4185, (another one uses a 718 number) was seeking money for the “New York Police Chief’s Foundation.” We asked if we could call him back and he said no! These scammers are hoping seniors, in particular, fall for the ruse. ***** Legendary basketball star Chris Mullin is returning to St. John’s as its men’s basketball coach. This is wonderful news for his vast legion of fans. Well known for his Brooklyn roots, he’s got some Rockaway ties to be sure. His brother Terrence lives here and on a visit a couple of years ago, Chris suited up and played in a Graybeard’s game. ***** This kind of news seems like something from the early 1990s when 2000 homicides a year happened in New York. On Monday, it was reported that police were investigating after human remains were found inside a duffel bag found on Gipson Street in Far Rockaway. ***** Passover is an eight-day celebration from the 15th through the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. It commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Easter is linked with Passover because Jesus and his

apostles were celebrating Passover just before his crucifixion. Passover and Easter often overlap but not always. Passover follows a Hebrew calendar; Easter a solar one. ***** NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer came to Rockaway on Tuesday with the news of his audit on the Build It Back program. The best that can be said is that it has gotten better. The de Blasio camp likes to heap all the blame on “the previous administration.” Bloomberg and friends deserve their share but his administration was gone by the time the need for fixes was clear. Not the least bit shocking is that the consultants have been paid. A New York Rising audit would likely reveal the same: consultants got and continue to get theirs. ***** Cross Bay/Woodhaven Boulevard is a clogged mess now; adding Select Bus Service will only make it worse. Taking away a lane of traffic for buses that never come on time will prove to be an epic failure. Finally, a plan to make the Van Wyck seem like a good option! ***** Dollars vans might have to undergo a name change. They might have to be called Two Dollar vans from now on. A price increase is scheduled for April 15th. ***** Happy Passover. Happy Easter.

Retractable Awnings • Hurricane Shutters •Solar Screens 4902-3rd Ave Brooklyn, NY

718-439-0005

483 Willis Ave Long Island, NY

516-663-6000

81 Pension Rd, Ste 116 Manalapan, NJ

732-792-2333

See Our Sign On The Gowanus BQE

OUR 27TH YEAR!

Need to Repair or Re-Cover Your Awning? Call Us!

Sizes Available From 8’ to 38’ And Projections from 5’ to 13’

Hurricane Protection Shutters

Zip Shade Benefits

Zip Shade Solar Screens License# 13VH04268000, NY LIC# 954851 Nassau LIC# HO809270000

SUN PROTECTION The solar screen material was designed to reduced sunlight entering an area, and helps keep covered areas cooler.

WAREHOUSE SPECIAL

00887RT

11’9”x10’

15’7”x10’

$1,899

$2,199 $2,599

19’3”x10’

WIND RESISTANCE The zip track holds the fabric in place, keeping the material wrinkle free and taught in windy conditions

KEEP INSECTS OUT In the fully closed position, the enclosed zip screens, can keep unwanted pests out.

Available in select fabrics. All retractable awnings included installation, wall mounting and 2’ x 10’ capped backer board on vinyl sided homes.

Add Motor

$499

The Awning Warehouse • 718-439-0005

With this coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Exp. 5-15-15

CHECK US OUT ONLINE @ WWW.AWNINGWAREHOUSE.COM

Page 6

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

The Rockaway Times

Build it Back Bungle Stringer Audit: Failures Galore; Don’t Celebrate Yet By Katie McFadden

The audit, which focused on a period from July 1, 2013 to August 1, 2014, revealed that the City’s Office of Housing Recovery Operations (HRO) failed to properly monitor contractors that handled the application process, and paid them $6.8 million for work that was flawed or incomplete, leading to delays in relief to the more than 20,000 people who originally applied to Build it Back. Why were there so many delays? The subcontractors handling the paperwork had no incentive to get it done in a timely manner, or to even

get it done right. They were paid regardless. Following the storm, HRO contracted Public Financial Management, a “firm that had no prior experience with disaster recovery, to be primary contractor and oversee subcontractors,” Stringer said. Among the subcontractors were URS Group, which was suppose to “provide on the ground service to storm victims, ensuring they had all the information necessary to complete applications for benefits,” and Solix Inc, which was “responsible for reviewing these applications and determining if the applicants were

eligible for benefits,” Stringer explained. The City made the mistake of paying these subcontractors before the work was done properly. The audit revealed that between July and December 2013, URS sent 9,126 applications to Solix, of which 5,432 or 59 percent were incomplete. URS and Solix were paid $3.3 million for submitting and reviewing 4,409 incomplete applications. HRO paid URS another $3.5 million for conducting 14,095 initial application meetings, without requiring the Continued on page 14

008 8RT

It’s no news that Build it Back screwed up. Almost anyone who tried to go through the process in its early days will tell you his or her nightmare ordeal with the program. On Tuesday, March 31, City Comptroller Scott Stringer came to Arverne to provide some answers to why the organization that was set up to help Sandy victims, failed so many. Stringer stood with members of various community civic groups, and gave residents the answers they’ve been waiting for as the result of a Build it Back audit. “New York City’s response to Sandy was a case study in dysfunction,” Stringer said. Residents who applied for the program told their tales of added hardship after the storm, with having to fill out large packages of paperwork, multiple times, and sometimes being told it was lost. During the audit, Stringer met with Sandy-impacted residents on six different occasions in different parts of the city. “I will never forget the rage of residents who came to our hearings with bags full of documents which they had been forced to submit several times,” Stringer said.

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Better Than A Dark and Stormy Night –– Creativity From PS 114

Page 7

Writer extraordinaire herself, Joan Diehl, teaches creative writing at PS 114. Her students seem to have the knack! As space permits, we’ll publish a few each week.

I Love Creative Writing By Olivia Wageman

“My family’s car slowly crept along the dark and lonely road,” read Ms. Diehl from my creative writing paper. “You wrote this yourself,” she exclaimed joyously. “Yes with only a little help,” I said proudly. A million bucks, no- a zillion bucks, that’s how I felt, like a zillion bucks! Like a shark in an ocean full of guppies! I felt like the sun, a giant star. “Now, that`s a hook boys and girls!” shouted Ms. Diehl. Ding-dongding-dong-ding-dong- interrupted the bell. ”We will continue this next time” my teacher announced. Fast as a jackrabbit I hopped up to the front of the room to catch Ms. Diehl before

she left. I caught her just as she was putting on her coat, which was as red as a roaring fire. “Olivia you are a very good writer, I might send this to the newspaper.” I could feel my cheeks turn as red as ripe strawberries. As Ms. Diehl talked to another student, I couldn’t help but think, my writing in the paper. I felt like someone just told me I had become President “This is a huge honor,” I declared. “Who are you talking to Olivia?” my friend A.J questioned. “Uh, nobody” I retorted. “Rewrite that paper so it can be published. Okay Olivia?” Ms. Diehl smiled. As she strolled out of the room I felt my smile stretching all the way to Sacramento.

I Love Soccer By Jason Machado

I run down the field as fast as a hungry lion chasing its prey. I move the ball between my feet as gracefully as a ballerina moves her feet on stage. I attack the other player with the ball like a bear would attack a predator coming near its cub. I am a soccer player! I have been playing soccer since I was three-years old and I love the game. Every time I step onto the soccer field wearing my Brooklyn Italians uniform I am excited and nervous at the same time. I love playing soccer on a travel team and going from place to place to meet my next opponents. Every game is different and I never know how things

will turn out. I always play my hardest and give it 100 percent no matter what. I love the sound of my coach yelling on the sidelines, “hustle”, “run faster”, “mark your player.” Hearing him yell makes me even more excited to play and win. I train two-three days a week, and even though my team and I fool around and have fun, we are serious soccer players. Soccer is my passion and I also love to watch and learn from the professional players. When I watch the games on TV, I imagine myself as one of the professional players on the field just about to score the game-winning goal. SCORE!!!

I Hate Clowns By Aiden Keane

Afros, red noses, big shoes, face paint—creeps! I’m really afraid of clowns and I’ve never shared this fear with anyone before. Doctors! Monsters! Aliens! Nope, they don’t scare me. Just clowns! No nightmares unrelated to circuses and rainbow wigs. I’d rather sit next to Freddy

Kruegar than even look at a clown. One glimpse at a clown and I start sweating until a river pours down my back. Those giant shoes make my eyes want to take the next freeway to Afghanistan. My hands start shaking like they’re trying to pop off and donate themselves to Captain Hook. I fear what would be uncovered if

they washed off that disgusting white cream. My lungs turn to iron, I can’t breathe and my face turns as red as an oversized cherry. My knees turn to jello, weakening by the minute. My feet get glued to the ground by sheer terror and horror. I can’t walk, so I waddle like a penguin escaping a polar bear’s cave. Why do clowns

need those giant shoes? Do they have a bad case of wolverine toenails? What’s with those rainbow afros? Do they hide a popping –out brain? I don’t know the answers and I don’t want to get involved. Clowns will always be my worst nightmare. Oh yeah, I don’t like mimes much either.

When you love paint as much as we do, making painting easy matters. Painting becomes easy, once you discover the Benjamin Moore paint that’s right for you. You’ll also enjoy exceptional durability. And with a Benjamin Moore store in your neighborhood, it’s incredibly convenient too. Visit benjaminmoore.com

ben_Ads_h.indd 3

008

JPJ PAINTS LLC 2211 AVENUE U BROOKLYN, NY 11229 BTW EAST 22ND AND EAST 23RD 718-676-1622 WWW.LOCONSOLO.COM 11/15/13 10:24 AM

Page 8

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Build It Back Joke

Dear Editor: Are you kidding me, this has to be a joke !!! (regarding the Build It Back Wants You Back article, 3/26/15). My wife and I were there last Wednesday (3/25( for another meeting and again a waste of time. After telling us we needed to fill out more forms we were told outright that we aren’t getting any money! So if you have the name and number of a supervisor and I mean a top official and not a minion, then I’ll go back by invite. Chris Gallagher

Transit Oversight!

Dear Editor: We MUST consider the Rockaway Beach line. How can the D.O.T and the M.T.A leave the most important part of a reliable and fast mode of transportation out of this project’s equation (Select Bus Service)? We have to get the RBL on track. I’m tired of hearing about the cost, in the long run it will pay off. Just think of the ridership and all the money it will generate. Danny Ruscillo

Half Baked Idea

Dear Editor: (Select Bus Service) This seems well and good but how frequently will the buses run on Woodhaven Blvd? The QM16 Express Bus is a great alternative right now but the MTA doesn’t run nearly enough buses for many riders to even consider it as a commuter option. If a person works off-hours, has to be in NYC before 7 a.m. or has to leave work after 7 p.m.,

the QM16 is not an option. Can’t we fix the QM16 schedule now before we see any more great ideas implemented by the MTA? At least hourly service starting at 4am and running until 9pm or later. Gerard Cunningham

Email Is Great!

Dear Editor: I was very excited to receive The Rockaway Times via email this morning! I didn’t even know you were online. Guess that’s because I’ve missed your last few issues. (They’re usually all gone by the time I get to the store.) Beautiful, easy-to-read website. I love it! I’ve forwarded your email to my relocated Rockaway relatives in California. I have mailed them several of your past issues and was told they read them cover to cover. So we think this new service is fabulous! Please keep me subscribed! Trudy Trotta

Nun Remembered

Dear Editor, While thumbing through this week’s Tablet I noticed the obituary of a nun on page 12. Her name was Sister Marie Pierre Meyer and I wondered to myself if she could be the Sr. Marie Pierre of years ago who taught music at St. Francis de Sales. Indeed it was. She was 94 years old. Here was a woman who would fly into the classroom arms filled with books, harmonica, albums, and record player. She would energetically sing, play music, set the tempo and explain to the class what an oboe and french horn were and how in “Peter and the Wolf”, the instruments took

Salon Evolution & Spa Blow out - $30 Cut/Blow - $60 SP $55 SP/Glz $73

1/2 Highlights - $90 Full Highlights - $140 1 Hour Massage - $60 1 Hour Facial - $60

teeth. No exaggeration, they were at a 90 degree angle with her gums. One of my friends ran into her several years after she taught at St Francis and didn’t recognize her. Her buck teeth were gone! She had fallen on the ice and her two front teeth were knocked out and had to be replaced with implants. Talk about an act of God. In an era when many of the priests and nuns have been criticized for their actions while trying to teach 5060 children in a class, Sr. Marie Pierre was a gift. Over the years, as I’ve sung to my own children, or played “Peter and the Wolf,” for them, I thought of her and the wonderful gifts she gave us. Thank you Sr. Pierre. Maureen Walsh

CONTACT THE ELECTED Congressman Gregory Meeks

City Councilman Donovan Richards

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

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

Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder

Assemblywoman Michele Titus

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

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

City Councilman Eric Ulrich

Community Board 14

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

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

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

PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kevin Boyle REPORTER Bianca Fortis CONTRIBUTORS Jules Verdone Kat y ouisSALES PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kevin Boyle Fred Marino SALES Frank Chimera CONTRIBUTORS Fred Marino Kat leen alsie ART ri DIRECTOR a Farrell Katie McFadden Erika Farrell REPORTER DESIGN AND LAYOUT DESIGN AND LAYOUT Michael Leboff Dragon y rap ics Printing Services, LLC Richner THE TIMES THE ROCKAWAY ROCKAWAY TIMES 114-04 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway 1144 Beac annel Drive oc a ayPark, ar NYY11694 11694 Phone: 718-634-3030 •e-mail Email: news@rockawaytimes.com one 718-634-3030 ne s roc a aytimes com

20% OFF 00

With this Ad New Clients Only

3075 Emmons Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11235 ~ 718.332.5135 ~

on the characters of the story. Sr. Marie Pierre was a person who truly loved what she did and tried to impart that love on her students. She taught at St. Francis for seven years from 1960-1967, played musical instruments and was the moderator of the choir. I still remember when, in third grade, she took the choir to a diocesan competition and we came in third place. Decked out in our blue robes and white beenies and stoles, we were so proud! Of course, at this holy time of year we would rehearse all the latin vespers without music. She had a set of wooden clackers that kept time. When I hear the vespers song by monks, I think of her. Physically she will be remembered for her outrageous set of buck

The Rockaway Times is published weekly by Double Nickel LLC, 114-04 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Park, NY 11694. Application to mail at Periodocals Postage Prices is Pending at Rockaway Park, NY. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Rockaway Times, 114-04 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Park, NY 11694.

KAWAY M publishes publis esevery everyThursday. ursday Ad Ad space THE ROCKAWAY TIMES space reservations reservationsbyby Monday12 12noon, noon preceding preceding date publication ditorial submission must be made Monday, dateof of publication. Editorial submission must be by Monday M preceding date of publication made by Monday, 3 P.M., preceding date of publication. letters KAWAYTIMES M should s ouldbe bebrief brief and and are are subject AllAll letters totoTHE ROCKAWAY subjectto toediting editing. Writers s ouldinclude includeaafull fulladdress addressand andhome ome // office of ce telephone telep one number Writers should number.AnonyAnonymous lettersare arenot notprinted. printed Name ame withheld it eld on uest mous letters onre request. o sucadad any partthereof t ereofmay maybe bereproduced reproduced without it out permission No such oror any part permissionofof THE KAWAY M The publisher e publis erwillillnot notbe beresponsible responsible for ROCKAWAY TIMES. for any any error errorininadvertisadvertisbeyondthe t ecost costofofthe t espace spaceoccupied occupied by by tthe e error rrors must inging beyond error. Errors mustbe bereported reported KAWAY M within it infivevedays daysofofpublication. publication Ad to to THE ROCKAWAY TIMES Ad position positioncannot cannotbe be guaranteed unlesspaid paidprior prior to to publication. publication guaranteed unless KAWAY M assumes assumes liabilityfor forthe t e content content or THE ROCKAWAY TIMES nonoliability orreply replytotoany anyads ads. e advertiser assumes liability e content and repliesThe advertiser e adverThe advertiser assumes allall liability forfor thet content ofof and allall replies. tiser agrees old M itsand its employees armless from all agrees to holdto THE ROCKAWAYKAWAY TIMES and employees harmless from all costs, costs e penses liabilities and damages resulting from causedby by the t e publication expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or or caused publication placed t eadvertiser advertiseror or any any reply reply to placed bybythe to any any suc suchadvertisement advertisement.

The Rockaway Times

Page 9

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

4TH ANNUAL YOUTH SUMMIT RETURNING The Far Rockaway/Arverne Nonprofit Coalition is hosting its fourth annual Far Rockaway Youth Summit on Saturday May 16, 2015 at the Far Rockaway Educational Campus (821 Bay 25th Street). The event is planned in partnership with the Youth Planning Committee, a group of local young leaders, bringing authentic youth leadership to the planning process. The free community-wide event will bring together approximately two hundred Rockaway youth and feature workshops on a variety of topics relevant to youth; a resource fair highlighting local programs; youth performances; a keynote address by Youth Empowerment Speaker Shaun Derik; raffle prizes; food; music; and more. For the first time ever, the Youth Summit will also offer programming for parents. The theme of this year’s Youth

Summit—with the tagline “It’s the Far Rock Life for Us!”—explores what it means to be a young person in Far Rockaway and emphasizes empowerment. The Youth Planning Committee has recorded an original song related to the theme, which they will debut at the event. The Far Rockaway Youth Summit originated in 2012, and the unique, youth-led event has continued to grow ever since. It remains a vital source of positivity for the community, combating the perception that Rockaway has nothing to offer young people by showcasing locally available programs and services. All youth ages 12 to 21 are invited to attend the 2015 Far Rockaway Youth Summit—and their parents are welcome, too. Anyone interested in participating, supporting, or volunteering can email info@farrockawaynonprofits.org.

Let US know what YOU think. Love Us? Like Us? Hate Us? We want to Know! SALES • REPAIRS • RENTALS

Marshal Stephen W. Biegel 109 W. 38th Street, Suite 200 New York, NY 10018

Paul’s Bicycle Shop

nd Pickup a Delivery Available

OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE • Parts & Accessories for all types of bikes • Fast & Friendly Service • Flats fixed while you wait

Coca-C Cruiser ola Special

$350

Regularl

y $500

Rockaway B each Bicycle Com pany Crusiers Are in Stock

NYC@marshalbiegel.com

$100 OFF

www.NewYorkCityMarshal.com

ANY FAT TIRE BIKE

Get’em while they last Expires 4.12.2015

Great Selection of Cruisers, Hybrids, BMX, Mountain, Folding, Unicycles, Adult Tricycles, Child Seats & Trailors, Cargo Trailers

718-318-2000 163 Beach 116th St. Rockaway Beach

Spring Hours:

008

Monday -Friday 10-7 Saturday 10-5 Sunday Noon-5

Pickup and Delivery Available *Must provide Valid Drivers license and credit card for all rentals.

Office: (212) MARSHAL (627-7425) Fax: (212) 398-2000

Page 10

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

The Rockaway Times

It Was The Taco the Town! Commenters Weigh In By Katie McFadden

When we announced the closing of Rockaway Taco in last week’s edition of the Rockaway Times, we knew it would get some reaction. Since the popular taco joint draws long lines of people about the Beach 96th building each summer, it was expected that some of those who wait in line, would put their two cents in about the shocking news. And they did. Within a few hours, our breaking story was picked up by many other publications and websites, such as Gothamist, Eater NY, Grub Street, AM New York, Brooklyn Magazine, Brownstoner Queens, DNAInfo and the NY Daily News just to name a few. Our story even made its way to television on NY1. The story earned us the most website traffic we’ve had to date, with more than 7,000 views on the Thursday that we published the story. With many forms of the story going around, fans of Rockaway Taco took to Twitter to express their anguish over the news. For some, it meant the end of the world. Among some of the statements made were: •“Rockaway Times reporting Rockaway Taco closing, moving to 87th street Surf Club as Tacoway Beach. A part of me dies.” •“This Rockaway Taco development is probably good news (the shack is so tiny, the lines so long) but still feels sad.” •“Rockaway Taco is closing, Tacoway Beach is opening: Rockaway Beach just won’t be the

same again.” •“Rockaway Taco is CLOSING?! Is this an early April Fools joke?!” •“Not only is it STILL winter, but now, I’ve completely lost all faith that summer is, and will be, a real thing. RIP.” •“RIP Rockaway Taco! You were one of the best memories of my NYC summers and I will never forget you.” •“The only reason I pretended to like the beach was because I could eat at Rockaway Taco. #tacoway” •“Great, summer is ruined. •“Goodbye, cruel New York.” •“Life is not worth living” No, we didn’t make those up. Some, who seemingly didn’t read the whole article, were under the impression that Rockaway Taco is dead and buried. Don’t fret. Summer is still coming and life is still worth living. Andrew Field, one of the partners of Rockaway Taco, is starting his own taco project called Tacoway Beach, and he’ll be dishing out treats at the Rockaway Beach Surf Club on Beach 87th Street. The other partner, David Selig, has some other big plans up his

sleeve for the old Rockaway Taco location on Beach 96th Street starting this summer and he says Rockaway Taco will return in 2016.

Bullochs of Belle Harbor WE OFFER RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SNOW REMOVAL

ly Support d u o s Pr

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

445 Beach 129 Street Belle Harbor, NY 11694

8RT

The Men & Women of the NYPD

The Rockaway Times

Page 11

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Sands Point Physical Therapy

Surfing More Than A Stunt

Fear of Falling? Tired of that Walker or Cane? Walk Too Slow?

Our NEW

By Michael Leboff

Recently a film crew came to Rockaway looking for a particular member of the peninsula’s eclectic surf community. But they weren’t after just any old wave rider, they were looking for Louis Harris, a locally known 43-year-old black surfer. “They were looking for me,” said Louis Harris. “They googled ‘black surfer Rockaway’ and my picture came up.” Harris explained that about two years ago, he was giving surf lessons to WNYC-radio reporter Stephen Nessen and the idea for a story popped into Nessen’s head. Nessen ran a story for WNYC profiling Rockaway’s growing black surfer community and that is how the film crew ultimately landed on Harris. It was appropriate that Harris was their target, because in a lot of ways he stands for what the surf community is all about. He’s a charismatic, fast-talker with plenty to say about surf culture and his love for his comrades. Born in Rockaway but raised in Dix Hills, Harris first started surfing after moving back to Rockaway from Long Island several years ago. He learned how to ride from black

surfing icon and author Brian “BJ” James aka The Nautical Negro and never looked back. “He not only taught me how to surf,” Harris said of his mentor. “But also the unwritten rules of surfing here.” As for his taste of screenwork, Harris learned quickly that he wasn’t going to be pampered like a star. After meeting at Last Stop Gourmet to go over the plan, the crew had Harris meet them at the beach ready to go. “They had me standing in my wetsuit in the cold,” Harris explained with a laugh. “I was freezing. They did a take of me paddling out and then a few shots of me surfing. I was in the water for 30-45 minutes before I had to come out because I was too cold. But, after I dried off and warmed up, I got back in and finished.” Despite the cold, Harris enjoyed the experience and was happy to contribute to the film, which is called Surf Report and will be screened at the Rockaway Beach Surf Club at a later date. As for Rockaway’s newest stunt-man, he is looking forward to the summer so he can get back to teaching surf lessons (in warmer weather).

Gait And Balance Program Can Help!!

Call Now!

Sands Point Physical Therapy 230 Beach 102 Street, Suite 3A Rockaway Park NY 11694

[718] 945-9575 Fax: [718] 945-5671

www.sandspointpt.com

Page 12

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

GaraGe Door Co.

The Rockaway Times

Between the Bridges in Broad Channel By Peter J. Mahon

residential • Commercial

FREE ESTIMATES

ON GARAGE DOOR REPLACEMENTS New Installations • expert repairs automatic Garage Door openers Swing & Slide Gate operators LICeNSeD/INSUreD Prompt Professional Service

718-968-7893 www.reggioDoors.com Great Flooring Begins With Us

30% off

Carpet • Linoleum Laminate • Hardwood Luxury Vinyl Tiles Area Rugs • Runners Window Treatments

on all inventory area rugs and runners

ANG

CARPET & FLOORING

Your Local Floor Specialist Since 2007

lvd each B B y a w a 1694 3 Rock , NY 1 k 114-1 r a P way 87 Rocka 18-21

718-3

LI00740RT

To Vote Or Not To Vote Recently our President floated the idea of compulsory voting, stating that, “If everybody voted, then it would completely change the political map of this country…it would be potentially transformative.” Our President cited the compulsory voting system currently in place in Australia as an example of the benefit of such a mandatory voting law. Unfortunately, what our President forgot to mention was a little thing called the First Amendment to our Constitution which states, in part, that “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech…” which provides a constitutional foundation for opting out of the voting process. He also forgot to mention that in Australia, there is no constitutional guarantee for the right of freedom of speech. Ideally, casting a vote allows an individual to express a choice among candidates who wish to become government leaders. It’s up to each voter to locate available information about each candidate and to make an informed decision about how to vote. Rather than allowing potential leaders to hide weaknesses and wrongdoing from public awareness, our democratic voting process urges all of us to get involved and to share viewpoints about who should lead. In reality, with the exception of a small, informed minority of the voting public who actively engage themselves in the process, the majority of voters simply listen to the commitments made by campaigning politicians and if they like the commitments they hear, they vote for that candidate. Unfortunately, politicians are not legally bound by the campaign commitments they make and as such are prone to saying whatever it is that they think you want to hear. There are also those who vote strictly along party lines regardless of the candidate or those who simply vote for the candidate they simply find most appealing. Now what about that segment of the population who do not vote? We have a substantial percentage of eligible voters who choose not to vote and their reasons for choosing not to vote are varied. They feel their individual vote will not “make a difference,” or “both parties are the same,” “all that

matters is money,” or “too much negative campaigning,” and there are those who do not vote because they “simply do not care.” Although I personally believe each of the concerns cited are valid, the fact remains that the problem is not with bad politicians, negative campaigning, or campaign financing. There are exactly two reasons why people do not vote. 1. People are uninformed and feel unqualified to vote, or… 2. They are simply lazy and do not care one way or the other. The people in group #1 are the heroes here. If you don’t know what you are voting for, then by all means, do everyone a favor and stay home. Now, there are legitimate reasons to be in group #1. Perhaps you simply do not have the time to spend preparing for an upcoming election. You know, like reading a newspaper, watching the news and all the other boring stuff. Maybe you simply have no problem with leaving the elections to those who are able and willing to involve themselves to vote on your behalf. Regardless, knowing that you have nothing to add to the process, rather than picking neat-sounding names, handsome looking candidates, toeing the party line, or whatever, you stay home. Bravo, I say, because an uniformed vote is worse than no vote at all. Everyone else who can but does not vote, falls into group #2 above… just plain lazy and uncaring. In either case, why would you want to force these groups of people to cast a vote on matters that are important to you unless you are hoping for a Kim Kardashian or Taylor Swift as your next elected representative. ***Everyone is invited to enjoy breakfast with the Easter Bunny on Sunday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There’ll be eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon, coffee, tea and juice with some 50/50 and raffles just to keep things interesting! As always, the St. Virgilius Golden Age Club meets every Thursday at the American Legion Hall in Broad Channel at 12:30 p.m. Broad Channel, why would anyone want to live anywhere else? Contact Information: Email – rtbetweenthebridges@gmail.com

The Rockaway Times

EDC Seeks Ferry Operators By Katie McFadden

The ferry still isn’t slated to return until 2017, but the New York City Economic Development Park is getting a jump-start on finding ferry operators for the Citywide Ferry Service. On February 3, Mayor de Blasio announced plans for a Citywide ferry service that would require $55,000,000 in City capital funds to create a network of five new ferry routes, in addition to the current East River Ferry service. On Friday, March 27, the EDC released a lengthy Request for Proposals form, seeking operators for the ferry service that will operate routes in Rockaway, South Brooklyn and Astoria starting in 2017 and the Lower East Side and Soundview in 2018. Interested operators may bid on individual routes, the entire system or both. All bids must be submitted by June 12, 2015. The bids are for operating for five years with an option to extend for another five years. The ferry service is expected to cost the same as a subway or bus ride, which is currently $2.75, plus free transfers to other ferry routes. The ferry service will operate seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. and each boat would run every 60-120 minutes, with less frequent trips on weekends in the winter. EDC is seeking boats that can carry a minimum of 149 passengers unless ridership projections warrant a smaller vessel. The boat must be ADA compliant and have storage space for bikes and strollers. The boats must also have adequate restrooms and the EDC encourages boat operators to provide food and beverage concessions. The Rockaway ferry would stop at Wall Street/Pier 11 and Brooklyn Army Terminal Pier 4. While a definite location for the Rockaway stop has not been announced, the EDC seems to be looking at an area ranging from Beach 116th Street to Beach 108th Street, where the previous ferry used to stop. In a meeting at City Hall, EDC President Kyle Kimball said the stop would likely be at Beach 108th and that the EDC has considered placing a stop in Far Rockaway, but a boat would not be able to make it under a bridge if the stop were on the east side. Kimball said the EDC may request ferry operators to provide a bus shuttle service that would bring riders to the ferry dock at Beach 108th, according to

Page 13

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Erin Durkin of the NY Daily News. While the EDC works toward establishing the 2017 ferry service, local residents and politicians say 2017 isn’t soon enough. “While I welcome this service with open arms, I am left wondering what the people of the Rockaways will do for this year and 2016. The summer season especially promotes tourism and the local economy. We need those benefits to continue rebuilding from Sandy, and a ferry brings in consumers to do just that,” Senator Joseph Addabbo said. Addabbo went on to say that the EDC would have to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of possible dock locations, which is a waste of time considering the Rockaway ferry was established without the need for a study after Hurricane Sandy. The senator proposes that a temporary ferry service should be established at the U.S. Coast Guard dock in Fort Tilden. “While we wait for the permanent ferry service to set sail in 2017, utilizing this Fort Tilden dock could be a smart, practical, temporary route to take. It already exists, and requires no study. A ferry operator could start pulling boats up tomorrow. There is parking for Rockaway residents wanting to travel off the Peninsula and Gateway Beach nearby for beach visitors coming in,” Addabbo said. “I am not proposing this as a fulltime, long-term solution. But I do suggest that we take advantage of this under-utilized feature from Memorial Day to Labor Day for summers 2015 and 2016. If this were to come to fruition, I cannot see a downside.” In its RFP, the EDC gave some background on city ferry service and mentioned a previous Rockaway service that began in 2008 and made trips to and from Riis Landing in Fort Tilden. That service was discontinued after two years. The EDC’s RFP for ferry operators can be found online at https:// www.nycedc.com/opportunity/ ferry-operator-citywide-ferrysystem-rfp. The EDC will hold two information sessions about the RFP at 2 p.m. on April 16 and April 30. The meetings will be in the 4th floor conference room of 110 William Street in Manhattan and those interested in attending should RSVP by emailing CitywideFerryService@edc.nyc before the meetings.

ADVERTISE IN THE ROCKAWAY TIMES 718-634-3030

Dalton’s Seaside Grill The Happiest Place on Earth Open for Lunch & Dinner (Closed Thursdays)

108-02 Rockaway Beach Boulevard Rockaway Park, NY 11694

HAPPY PASSOVER!

HAPPY EASTER!

718.634.4384

HAPPY SPRING!

Join Us For Easter! Sunday, April 5

Brunch Buffet 11 A.m. - 1 P.m. $22 Adults; $12 Kids (Under 12) Full Gourmet Brunch Offerings & Dessert Bar! Includes Soda, Juice, Coffee & Tea ~ Fresh Bagels, Muffins, Fruit & More!

Easter Dinner Dinner Seatings at: 2pm, 4pm & 6pm Special Holiday Chef’s Menu Call for reservations & more information:

718.634.4384

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

Estate Planning & Elderlaw Wills, Trusts, Probate Medicaid Planning, Medicaid Applications Guardianship, Real Estate Matters “Planning in Advance is the Key to Protecting the Value of Your Home and Savings”

156-36 Crossbay Blvd, Howard Beach, NY 11414 718.738.8500 • www.bradyandmarshak.com The attorneys are currently members of: The New York State Bar Association’s Elderlaw, Trusts & Estates, & Real Estate Sections: NAELA (National Academy of Elderlaw Attorneys) Attorney Advertisment

8RT

Page 14

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Build it Back Bungle Continued from page 6

the two subcontractors and applications languished,” Stringer said. “There was no motivation to clean this up because every step of the way, the contractors were getting paid no matter what happened, so there was no check on the contractors and there was no standard by which you get paid.” The audit also revealed double billing by consultants and payments for undocumented costs. “We found double billing that was inexcusable. HRO paid PFM almost a quarter of a million dollars for services which they had already been reimbursed for. HRO paid subcontractors $1.2 million for hours that could not be supported by hourly reports and $74,000 of which was paid for travel expenses that had not documentation. We had no idea where they were going or what they were traveling for,” Stringer revealed. The audit also shows that the employees being paid were unqualified. URS was supposed to hire Housing Recovery Specialists who had two years of experience in case management or similar work and a bachelors degree in social work or a related field. Out of 154 resumes that were reviewed, none had a degree in social work and only 29 percent had any sort of bachelor’s degree. “In a sur-

vey, 43 percent of storm victims said employees couldn’t give them basic information about how the program operated, including how to seek benefits or the information needed to complete applications,” Stringer said. “The recovery effort was a field day for contractors making money. It was a nightmare for victims.” The audit also showed that more than 100 changes were made to the program over 11 months, which led to even more delays and confusion. After revealing the findings, Stringer said, “most unbelievably, the same contractors who bungled the job so badly are still on the job today and are still unaccountable to the public.” PFM was terminated by the city in December 2013, but three contractors, including URS and Solix, are still working for Build it Back. “These subcontractors don’t have direct contracts with the city. Without registered contracts in place, the city has limited leverage over these firms, meaning applicants remain vulnerable to failures and the City’s potential liability has increased,” Stringer said. Despite the surprising news that URS and Solix continue to work with Build it Back, Stringer said the program has made improvements under the new administration. The audit showed that applications are being processed faster and progress is be-

STEPINTRODUCING

ing made, but the program is still not at a level that it should be, more than two years after Sandy. “We shouldn’t be celebrating where we are at this point. So few homes have been built. There’s so much more to do. We estimate thousands of people have been lost to this process. They’ve actually pulled out of any kind of rebuild. That is something that strikes at the heart of what went wrong here,” Stringer said. In response to its findings, the comptroller’s office made several recommendations to HRO and the Mayor’s office. “The single most important is that HRO cannot delegate responsibility for running the Build it Back program to private companies,” Stringer said. Other recommendations including dedicating sufficient staff to contract management and invoice appraisals, ensuring the accuracy of data in the Case Management System, registering valid contracts for subcontractors, reviewing invoices to ensure duplicate payments are not made and more. “What happened with Build it Back was a disgrace and the message we’re sending today is that is must not happen again,” Stringer said. Arverne resident Darrell Mitchell spoke of his ordeal with Build it Back and expressed his hope that the audit will lead to some changes in the pro-

NYCB

gram. “We’ve had quite a turbulent time with Build it Back. If this day can produce even one solution for a resident or even 10, that would be great. Our fear is that after today, it will all disappear again, but with the comptroller’s office, we already feel a little resolve because we had no idea what was going on with Build it Back.” Mayor’s office spokesperson, Amy Spitalnick said the changes have already been made. She responded to the audit, calling it skewed, since much of it focused on the first seven months of the program, before the de Blasio administration overhauled Build it Back in April 2014. “This audit simply reiterates what the administration already outlined in its Build it Back report nearly one year ago – and every recommendation is already implemented or being implemented as part of the Mayor’s overhaul,” Spitalnick said. “Last year, the City took over direct management of all Build it Back case management, while renegotiating contracts to secure significant savings that were put back into relief efforts. To be clear – no vendor has received payments in excess of the total amount they are owed to date. As a result of Mayor de Blasio’s overhaul, thousands of homeowners who had previously been stalled in intake have now seen direct relief.”

Third Step

1.34 % 1.04 % 0.75

Second Step

First Step

17-24 MONTHS

INTEREST RATE1

9-16 MONTHS

INTEREST RATE1

1-8 MONTHS

INTEREST RATE1

1.04

% APY1

• Great rate! Interest rate automatically increases at 8 and 16 months • Flexibility! Option to withdraw all or part of the funds at 8 and 16 months without penalty2 • Low Minimum! Only $2,500 required to open and maintain the account

24 MONTH CD

1 Annual Percentage Yield (APY) above is accurate as of date of publication and is subject to change without notice. The interest rate increases after each eight-month Interest Rate Time Period on the anniversary of the account opening. The interest rates for all three eight-month Interest Rate Time Periods are established at account opening and fixed for the full 24-month term. Fees could reduce earnings. The minimum balance to open and earn the above stated APY for the promotional CD is $2,500. In order to qualify for the above APY, the CD must be opened with new money not currently on deposit with the Bank. 2 A penalty may be imposed for withdrawals before maturity. The penalty will be waived if the withdrawal is made within the first seven (7) calendar days after the start of a new eight-month Interest Rate Time Period. Offer available through the branches in the states of New York and New Jersey only. Offer may be withdrawn at the discretion of the bank at any time. The bank is not responsible for typographical errors.

008 3RT

myNYCB.com • (877) 786-6560

The Rockaway Times

Page 15

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Bungalow Bar Pops Up In Manhattan way, he felt the timing was right. “Pop-ups give a unique experience to both the customer and the operator,” Tubridy said. According to Tubridy, the restaurant will feature a Rockaway themed menu that will include a lobster grilled cheese, frozens, and small plates. The restaurant will have a beach shack theme complete with sandy floors and buoy lights. “We asked ourselves, how do we promote Rockaway tourism to Manhattan,” Tubridy said.

“We wanted to bring some Rockaway themes to Manhattan. So this is like a summer preview.” The pop-up, which will be called Bungalow Pop-up Bar, will be located in Hatbox, the hotel’s sidewalk level venue. It will be open from April 6 - May 1 and will serve food from 12-7 p.m. To add to the local flavor, End of the A, Rockaway’s popular mobile boutique will be parked outside the restaurant.

CLASSIC TILE

Designer Showroom - Large Inventory 1635 86th Street Brooklyn, NY 11214 718-331-2615 • 718-331-1242 Fax: 718-236-4740

CERAMIC TILE CRACKLE TILE GLASS TILE GLASS MOSAIC TILE GRANITE TILE MARBLE TILE MEDALLIONS METAL TILE MOSAIC TILE OUTDOOR TILE PORCELAIN TILE QUARRY TILE SLATE TILE SUBWAY TILE WOOD LOOK TILE

30 South Bridge Street Staten Island, NY 10309 718-967-5700 Fax: 718-967-5707

www.ClassicTileNewYork.com

For the next month Manhattanites can get a taste of Rockaway without having to lug their beachware on the A Train. That’s because Bungalow Bar, one of Rockaway’s most popular local haunts, will be opening a pop-up restaurant at the Refinery Hotel in Manhattan’s Garment District. According to Terence Tubridy of In Good Company Hospitality, the plans for a Rockaway-style pop-up restaurant has been in the works for a while and with summer making its

By Michael Leboff

Page 16

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

The Rockaway Times

Polar Plunge: Splashing to the tune of $36,000.00

The Rockaway Polar Plunge hit its goal of $30,000 as they opened the registration table on Saturday and raised another $6,000 before the Plunge. Two thumbs up for the Rockaways for doing their part for the Special Olympics of NY. As plungers of all ages gathered in the main building (some in costumes) at Jacob Riis Park preparing for the plunge you could feel the excitement in the air. Though there were a few in the room that were having second thoughts, when the time came not one of them ended up in the chicken coop. Talking with a few of the plungers, the spirits were high with talk of it being for a good cause and wanting to do something to help the Special Olympics of NY. As they emerged from the water with their faces red from the cold, they ran inside to dry off. I had a chance to speak with a few of the plungers about the experience, with most describing it as “exhilarating”, “awesome” and “great”. The overriding sentiment was conveyed by an older man who said “It was cold, but it was worth it,” as he shivered and a guy in his 20’s who said “I got nervous, it felt like

I couldn’t breathe, but it was for a good cause”. The Rockaway Point Volunteer F.D, NYPD, NYFD and NYC Parks Department were all on hand throughout the event and prepared for any emergency that might arise. Thankfully, no one suffered more than a few goose bumps and no emergency care was needed. The after-party at the Bungalow Bar was packed with plungers still filled with excitement. I am sure many of them will be back again next year to do their part once again.

008

By Artie Wallace

The Rockaway Times

Page 17

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Alice O’Connor Lic. Associate RE Broker

Louis Calemine Licensed Real Estate Broker

625 Gravesend Neck Rd. Brooklyn, NY 11223

www.calemine.com

(718) 998-1100

For Sale:

Rentals:

Arverne By The Sea

Arverne By The Sea Belle Harbor 3bd/2.5ba---$2,700 2bd/2ba---$2,500 3bd/2.5ba---$2,400 2bd/1ba---$1,800 2bd/1ba---$1,750

Rockaway Beach 1bd/1ba--$1,500 1bd/1ba--$1,300

2bd/1ba---$1,700 Beach Block

1bd/1ba---$3,000 for Summer rental

Neponsit House Rental 3bd/2.5 ba---$3,200 Furnished and renovated, hwd floors, upgraded appliances, long, private driveway. Immaculate.

“Clients come first at Calemine & Co.” That Foolish Day: We Caught A Few

JANET REDMOND HOGAN

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

gram. Oh, and it’s going to be 80 degrees tomorrow! Unfortunately, it’s also April Fool’s Day... That was our cruel joke on Facebook on Wednesday. Too many things should be true and aren’t. But a Facebook post pales in comparison to what a Brooklyn paper once did. They made a front page story with headlines blaring: Mill Basin Bridge Getting Tolls ! Talk about cruel! Talk about traffic on the Belt. Yikes.

Century 21 Amiable Realty Group II, Inc. Margaret A. Wagner • Associate Broker • (347) 236-2018 mwagnerrealtor@aol.com | www.c21amiable2.com Member of the Long Island & Queens Multiple Listing Service Serving the Broad Channel Community for over 18 years!

BROAD CHANNEL ISLAND

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

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!! Check out this Waterfront Beauty! Completely Renovated Living room, Dining room, Kitchen and Bathroom 3 Bedrooms, Master with Balcony, Central Air, Trex Decking, storage shed & pool. COMMERCIAL BUILDING FOR RENT Great office space for architects, engineers, contractors. $3,500 per month

917.559.8646 • janet@breezypointhouses.com breezypointhouses.com /janetredmondhogan Rockaway Point Gorgeous 4 bedroom home. All new! $675,000. New exclusive! Rockaway Point! Beautiful 3 bedroom all new interiors! A must see! $440,000 Rockaway Point, parking behind and two screened in porches! Asking $360,000.

Rockaway Park, beautiful top floor apartment, all new, too much to list! $450,000 Roxbury 3 bedrooms with basement, modern kitchen and baths. Beautiful bay views. Asking $595,000. Roxbury, 2 bedrooms, bay view. No water on first floor. Asking $360,000. Breezy Point, Vacant lot on a street. $495,000

Rockaway Point, 4 Bedroom, Partial Bay View $550,000.

Rockaway Point Gutted home with new electric. $299,000

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

Rockaway Point On a street. 3 bedrooms. Partial bay view!!! Big lot! $595,000

Breezy Point, loft home in the wedge 3/4 bedrooms LOWERED PRICE $430,000.

Rockaway Park three bedroom, two full bathroom beautiful home. Fully renovated six years ago, all new kitchen and baths, finished basement $570,000 Breezy Point Seasonal street. 2 bedrooms. Fully renovated. $495,000

Rockaway Point, Vacant lot on a walk. $225,000 Breezy Point vacant lot in the wedge. LOWERED PRICE $235,000

NEW EXCLUSIVE!

Rockaway Point Charming 4 bedroom, 2 bath home, close to stores and bay! $605,000 Rental season has started! We Have several customers looking for summer rentals. Please contact us today if you are interested in renting your home.

00833RT

WATERFRONT HOUSE FOR SALE 2 Bedrooms, Hardwood Floors, Washer & Dryer, Outside deck House Listed at $225,000.00

Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker

Find out what your home is worth today!

Carolyn Redmond, Broker 718.474.6722

0088 RT

BREAKING! Parks says the boardwalk will be complete by Memorial Day 2015. EDC says the Rockaway ferry will be reinstated next week. Peninsula Hospital is set to reopen next month. The DOT promises to have every road fixed by July 4 and they’re doing away with the speed camera on Beach Channel Drive. Homeless shelters will no longer be built on the peninsula. Build it Back is sending out checks to everyone, even those who dropped the pro-

00895RT

Breakers Sec., 2-Family Admiralty II 2 Bedroom, 1 full bathroom, open layout~~over~~3 Bedroom, 2.5 BA duplex. MBR Suite w/walk-in closet. Garage, driveway and yard space. Property delivered fully vacant. Asking $640K

Belle Harbor Retail/Office Space 700-1,100 sqft.

Page 18

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Laurice Keating Real Estate

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

Lorraine Tom

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

Andrea Romeo

Anna Montella

HOMES FOR SALE

Regina White

OPEN HOUSE 337 Beach 86th Street Saturday, April 4 12:00-1:00 pm

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

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

Lorraine Tom

$379,000

$305,000

Semi attached five bedroom colonial w/ 2.5 baths. Main level has an open floor plan. Wood flooring throughout the main level and second story. Third floor has new carpeting enclosed carport, secluded back yard, large front porch, new heating and electrical system move in condition.

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

Beautiful Panoramic Bay Views! 3 bedrooms,3 baths, Den,EIK,living room with ledge stone wood burning fireplace, formal dining room and a huge semi finished basement. Price is negotiable.

$795,000

$825,000

$549,000

$850,000

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

Post sandy Build your own dream house This home needs a family ready! Willing! And able! To comlpete it’s renovation.Heating and electric have been replaced.

$1,299,000

$305,000

$649,000

Asking $345 Heart of Belle Harbor contemporary. This home has it all,five bedrooms,three full baths,state of the art EIK; FDR & LR w/ WBFP, glass enclosed sun room,home office, large family room w/ additional WBFP, craft and game room,laundry room, private driveway and beautiful park like grounds.

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

$450,000

Bay 25th New Exclusive 40 x 100 One Family 3 Bedrooms, one full bath, EIK, DR, LR, Full basement, Driveway - 2 Car Garage Beautiful Bay Views/ City Skyline

Asking $400

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

$189,000

One family 40x100 Three bedrooms One full bath EIK, DR,LR, Full Basement Private driveway Two car garage

430 BEACH 130 STREET BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME IN THE HEART OF BELLE HARBOR. BEACH 130TH STREET 40X100 PROPERTY LOT PRICED TO SELL! $325,000

00897RT

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

Beach 69th New Exclusive!

Page 19

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

NEPONSIT REALTY inc P 718.945.2411

Licensed Real Estate Broker Geri Lipsman

www.neponsitrealty.com

since 1986

Have a Blessed and Joyous Passover & Easter! HOUSES & CONDOS FOR SALE

COOPS FOR SALE

NEW TO MARKET BREEZY POINT

OCEANFRONT COOP

Completely renovated, high-end design, 2 bedroom, terrace. Move right in!!

$425K

Fabulous Year Round home, near beach and shopping! Brand new kitchen, 2 baths, 3 extra-large bedrooms, gas fireplace, hardwood flooring, high ceilings, large deck, great for entertaining. Amazing find!!

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

NEW EXCLUSIVE CONDO A

R NT

$258K

Call Susan 347-260-3891

Call Us!

Integrity

APARTMENTS

Call Susan 347-260-3891

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

Tradition

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

Call Susan 347-260-3891

$625K

Licensed Sales Agents Susan Lavin Kate Patterson Jamie Hogan

00862RT

The Rockaway Times

ONE BEDROOM

109 - Studio, Adorable Bunglow, pay all utilities. Must have Good Credit. Call Susan 347 260 3891 $1150 th

118th - Renovated, ss appliances, granite, 3 double closets, $1400 Ocean & Bay views.. 123th - Great boardwalk building, excellent condition, $1350-1500 parking extra, pay G&E 124th - LR/DR combo, terrace, pay elec

SIV

C EX

T ON

HEART OF BELLE HARBOR

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

Call Susan 347-260-3891 $144K

$1400

Call Susan 347 260 3891

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

137 Waterviews, Nice size rooms, plenty of closets, parking

$1400 $1500

for 1 car. No pets. Pay electric and gas. 140th - 2nd level, furnished, includes all util.

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

$1300

NEW TO MARKET

Belle Harbor Center Hall Ranch

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

$850K Reduced to $795K

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

$189K

OCEAN GRANDE CONDO Extra Lg 2 BR & 1.5 bth, Bright & Airy, with Open Floor Plan with Large Terr, with Ocean & Bay Views. New Appls., W/D, Indoor Deeded Parking Spot, Fitness Ctr, Concierge, Rooftop Deck. Pet Friendly Bldg. Must see. Call Susan 347-260-3891

Asking $415K

TWO BEDROOMS

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

OCEAN FRONT COOP

Move right in to this one bedroom unit,totally renovated to perfection, granite, stainless appliances, five closets. Exceptional value! Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Make A Deal!

A BEACH HAVEN COOP

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

$179K

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

117th 2nd level, new appliances, terrace, parking, $1550 water views, all util included 123rd Ocean views every room, completely renovated, terrace, pay elec. Call Susan 347 260 3891

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

$785K

BELLE HARBOR, BEACH BLOCK, GREAT SIZE, 3 BEDROOMS, 2 BATHS, LIVING ROOM, DINING ROOM, BASEMENT, YARD, PLENTY PARKING, PAY ALL UTILIITES ..........................................................................$2500 BELLE HARBOR, 3 BEDROOMS, 2 BATH, WORK KITCHEN, PRIVATE PARKING, PAY ALL UTILITIES....$2000

$1800

124th - Oceanfront Coop w/ terrace. Need good credit. $1800 Pay G&E. No parking

127th 1.5 baths, w/d, terrace, pay all util. Call Susan 347-260-3891

$ 1800

THREE BEDROOMS 122

LEGAL 2 FAMILY

$1600

$179K

E SIV

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

BEACH BLOCK, RENOVATED, new kitchen, bath,

w/d, hook up, parking, pay all util

$2000

129 Walk-In Brand New Sunny Apartment, Close to All, New Kitchen, 1.5 Bath, Large Yard, Parking. Need Good Credit. Pay Gas & Electric Only. Call Susan 347 260 3891

Rent $2200

129 Brand New Sunny Apartment, Close to All, Nice Terrace, Parking. Pay Gas & Electric. Need Good Credit. Call Susan 347 260 3891

Rent $1800

Page 20

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

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

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

The Rockaprop Team

3 Year Member

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

BRAND NEW EXCLUSIVE

Neponsit Center Hall Colonial

Belle Harbor Center Hall Colonial

Custom built home with a sweeping open floor plan which features gleaming marble tiles, Schonbek chandeliers, custom kitchen and bar with high end appliances, 5 spacious BR's, 4 baths, 2 car garage plus additional 10 car parking. $1,749,000

Spectacular home exudes the quality and style that every buyer is dreaming of! Impressive in size with over 4500 sq.ft of luxurious living space with 4 BR's, 3.5 baths, custom kitchen, massive bsmt and fabulous yard with saltwater in-ground heated pool. $1,350,000

BRAND NEW EXCLUSIVE

Rockaway Park Legal Two Family - 40'x100'

Delightful Neponsit Ranch 40'x100'

Beautifully manicured grounds with bay views, front porch and second floor terrace. Upgraded with beautiful granite counter tops, SS appliances. Large garage that fits two cars comfortably, partially finished basement and private driveway. $749,000

Adorable 3 3BR,BR,2.52.5baths, flooring, fireplace, fireplace, Immaculate baths,allall minted minted out out with bamboo flooring, gorgeous kitchen with quartz counters, stainless appliances and a skylight for lots of natural light. Don’t miss this sweet gem of a home! $749,000

BRAND NEW EXCLUSIVE

This beautiful 3 BR, 2 bath home has an open floor plan, LR, eat in kitchen with an enclosed family room that has stunning water views. Trex deck and floating dock. One of the BEST blocks in Broad Channel! $429,000

Fantastic Jamaica Bay Views! 3BR duplex apartment sits over a lovely 1BR apartment. New Trex Deck in Yard and PVC fence. New Roof, siding, plumbing and Washer/Dryer. Plenty of space for storage and a full basement. $425,000

Broad Channel Waterfront!

Fantastic Jamaica Bay Views!

TWO EXCLUSIVE OPEN HOUSES  SAVE THE DATE  APRIL 27th

No expense was spared on this LEGAL 2 FAMILY Rockaway Gem! Newly renovated home with two master suites, plus an additional 3 large BR's, 4 covered porches, full finished basement and attic. Private parking plus 2 car garage. $1,195,000

This sprawling split level home is located on prestigious Neponsit Avenue and situated on a gorgeous corner 60'x100' property with back patio and 2 car garage. Large LR/DR combo, 4 large BR's, hardwood floors and large walk in finished basement. $1,085,000

The Rockaway Times

Page 21

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

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

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

The Rockaprop Team

3 Year Member

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

HUGE PRICE REDUCTION!

FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY!

Calling All Savvy Buyers!!

Owner Willing Hold Financing!!

Spacious 4,876 sq ft building located in a Rockaway's prime commercial HOT Bring your business to the residents of Belle Harbor and Neponsit in this modern SPOT! Open floor plan with grand ceiling height and back steps leading up to storefront on bustling Beach 129th Street. This 100'x 100' corner property has a large a private office. Be the first in line to STEAL this 60'x99' property. $999,000 parking lot and is cleared and ready to build upon. $$$$ - Present All Oﬀers! Exclusiv e Properties for Sale BELLE HARBOR

Oceanfront 84’x100’ Over 5,000 sq ft. of sumptuous living space in this 5BR, 5.5 baths home.with a Gunite in-ground pool and massive basment. $3,999,999

BELLE HARBOR

Oceanfront 100’x100’ Proven to be Hurricane proof. Legal 2 Family with stunning ocean views 4 BR, 3 baths and parking for 12 cars comfortable. $2,800,000

ARVERNE BY THE SEA

ROCKAWAY PARK

ROCKAWAY BEACH

New To Market Mint condition home nestled in the “Breakers”. Large3BR,2.5baths,ocean views, rooftop terrace and HUGEyard.1BRrentalunit for a guaranteed income. $749,000

Oceanfront Penthouse This 3 BR, 2 full bath is oozing with charm. HW floors, granite counters, Juliette balcony, roof top deck and private parking. $519,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

Priced to Sell! TOP FLOOR OCEAN VIEW 3BR 2 bath condo with a private southwest facing rooftop deck. HW floors, cathedral ceilings, skylights and private parking. $419,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

Oceanfront Co-op Fifth floor 2 BR apartment with HW floors, gorgeous new kitchen, SS appliances, sliders to direct private ocean view terrace. $299,000

BROAD CHANNEL

Price Just Reduced! Do you dream of living on the water with your boat? Just the right touch will make this ranch a magnificent home! $199,000

Legal 2 Family Home Brick home on large corner lot! This 3BR 2 bath has EIK with granite counters, FDR, LR, 1 car garage, PS114 school district. $699,000

Luxurious Oceanfront Stunning panoramic ocean views from this contemporary 2BR, 2 bath oceanfront apartment. Comes with parking and storage room. $479,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

Belle Shores Condominium Gorgeous walk in duplex. Newly renovated 2BR/2.5 baths with HW floors. Two deeded parking spaces, exclusive for this unit only. $399,000

ARVERNE BY THE SEA

Spectacular Oceanfront Owners unit 2BR including a HUGE master suite, 2 baths, upgraded kitchen, rooftop deck. 3BR rental 2 baths,W/D and parking. $869,000

ARVERNE GEM

80’x100’ - Fully Upgraded Legal 3 Family Savvy home buyers, finally it is your chance to own a money maker!!! Live free and clear from the profits from the 2 rentals on the grounds. $599,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

Brand New Construction Gorgeous 3BR, 2 bath with SS appliances, HW floors, laundry in unit, private roof top patio and private terrace with ocean views. $445,990

BROAD CHANNEL

Turn Key Home Fully renovated, 4 BR, 2.5 bath home. Open layout, granite counter top, private deck with Jamaica views and a decked yard with pool. $389,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

UPPER BELLE HARBOR

BELLE HARBOR

ROCKAWAY BEACH

New Construction Condo’s Buy a new condo for as little as 5% down. 2 and 3 BR’s available with SS appliances, HW floors, laundryinunitandprivate terrace. Gated parking available. $289,990 Why Bother Renting? This apt features old world charm, arched doorways, high ceilings and hardwood floors throughout. Gorgeous sunsets. $199,000

Fully Upgraded Co-op Gorgeous 2 BR 1.5 bath apartment with stunning HW floors and a HUGE private patio. Parking is available, motivated seller $289,000 The Coral House Brand new 2 BR, 1 bath ground floor condo unit is super convenient for all and newly renovated. Close to all. $195,000

BAYSWATER

A Beautiful Tree Lined St Beautiful 5 BR, 3 bath home on a spacious 100’ x 170’ property. Move in condition with private parking and 2 car garage. $850,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

Legal 2 Family Semi-attached home with 3 cozy BR’s, 2 baths, LR/DR combo, HW floors and private terrace and family room. 2 BR rental apartment. $535,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

Modern Oceanfront Building Large 2BR, 2 bath with LR, dinette area, modern eat in kitchen,SS appliances, private ocean view terrace and private parking. $445,000

EDGEMERE

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

ARVERNE BY THE SEA

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

ROCKAWAY PARK

Brand New Exclusive WATERFRONT 3BR, 1.5 Bath home with amazing views of the Manhattan skyline from your Kitchen, LR, DR and Master BR. Private Driveway $525,000

ROCKAWAY PARK

Ocean Grande Condominium 2BR, 2 bath unit has many upgrades. HW floors, granite kitchen counters, SS appliances, W/D plus private terrace with ocean views! $445,000

BROAD CHANNEL

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

ROCKAWAY BEACH

ROCKAWAY PARK

BELLE HARBOR

ROCKAWAY PARK

Old World Charm Attached 2 family is in need of restoring. Currently being used as a 1 family. Full basement and high ceilings! $245,000

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

Brand New Exclusive! FANTASTIC 1 BR CONDO at a price that will make you wonder why you are renting. With low common charges and private parking. $209,000 Oceanfront Building Enjoy living at the beach in this cozy 1BR, maintenance fee’s are a 40% write off on your annual taxes. Bike and storage area available.$125,000

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

KENNEDY'S Management & Staff Thank All Our Loyal Customers Who Have Shown Such Incredible Support Since We've Re-Opened. Happy To Announce Sunday Brunch is Back Lunch Served Daily Bar Menu Available - Off Hours

Kennedys • Breezy Point • 718-945-0202

Sandy Tax Relief Bill Passes Assembly Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder has praised his fellow assemblymen and women for taking swift action and passing his legislation through the assembly. The legislation will provide property tax exemptions through 2020 for eligible homeowners seeing increases on NYC Department of Finance Notices of Property Value due to Sandy-related repairs. “Passing this Sandy tax relief bill is a major victory for our families who do not deserve to be taxed for simply repairing and replacing what was lost in the storm,” Goldfeder said. “I want to thank my colleagues for recognizing that two years after Sandy, our families still desperately need this assistance.” The new legislation (Assembly Bill A-5620-B) changes state Real Property Law to allow New York City to provide a partial exemption on homeowner’s annual property tax assessment for home repairs and improvements stemming from damage sustained during Superstorm Sandy. It will also count Sandy-related repairs completed in Fiscal Year 2014 towards property assessment increases capped

by the state. Under state tax laws, home improvements are not subject to state property tax caps intended to protect homeowners from assessed property value increases that translate into higher taxes.

For help email : relief@habitatwc.org www.habitatwc.org

We Appreciate your donations!

00 0 RT

Page 22

The Rockaway Times

Page 23

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Protect your world Auto • Home • Life • Retirement

p m u J ce Studio

n a D

Some people think Allstate only protects your car. Truth is, Allstate can also protect your home or apartment, your boat, motorcycle - even your retirement and your life. And the more of your world you put in Good Hands®, the more you can save.

John Lepore Insurance Agency 718-945-1900

Jump now accepting children for our summer program for all ages 2-12. Full and half day programs include cooking, art, musical theater, singing lessons, dance, and tumbling. Also offering this summer, dance classes for all ages and levels. Company classes. New offering singing, drama and acting. Our musical theater class is being taught by a "Rockette" and our drama and singing being taught by our very own actress who appears live on Broadway. What are you waiting for? We have it all under one roof!

112-30 Beach Channel Drive Rockaway Park

LI00900RT

Insurance subject to terms, qualifications and availability. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Indemnity Co., Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance Co. Life insurance and annuities issued by Lincoln Benefit Life Company, Lincoln, NE, Allstate Life Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL. In New York, Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York, Hauppauge, NY. Northbrook, IL. © 2010 Allstate Insurance Co.

Proudly serving our community for over 25 years.

185 Beach 116th Street 1-917-805-2906

Call me today to discuss your options.

BAYVIEW URGENT CARE CENTER

Wal k- Ins Ar e Wel com e - N o A p p o i n t m e n t s N e c e s s a ry ! • EKG • Lab Work • Pulmonary Function Testing • Asthma Attacks • Ear Infections • Fractures • Minor Lacerations• Stitches • Vaccinations • Physicals • DOT Exams • X-Ray • Ultra-Sounds Available And More

Doctors

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

Proudly Serving the Rockaway Community for Over 2 Years OPEN 7 Days: Monday – Friday 9 am – 8 pm Saturday – Sunday 9 am – 5 pm

Most Insurance Plans Accepted – Parking Available

WE SPEAK ENGLISH, RUSSIAN

115-06 Beach Channel Drive, Suite 101, Rockaway Park, NY - 718-474-7744

Page 24

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Boy Scouts Troop Is Growing

all children with cancer, those in the community and those who are familiar with the Weinstein family’s ordeal and Mikey’s battle, were asked to wear orange on Tuesday, as orange is his favorite color and the same color as his beloved Ernie from Sesame Street. St. Rose of Lima Catholic Academy had an orange dress down day to show their support. “Our love and prayers are with Mikey and his family,” Principal Theresa Andersen said.

We’re making rent this month. What would you do with your refund?

com or simply attend one of the weekly meetings at Fort Tilden, Rockaway.

You may be eligible for up to $10,000 from tax credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Call 311 or go to nyc.gov/taxprep for ways to file your taxes for FREE.

Text “Refund” to 97779* and join #GotMyRefund conversations on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. *Message and data rates may apply. Check with your service provider.

On Tuesday, March 31, the students of St. Rose of Lima, and many others around the neighborhood, wore orange to support Mighty Mikey. In 2008, then 2-year-old Mikey Weinstein was diagnosed with unclassifiable Brain and Spine tumors. Following Sandy, the family had to relocate to Florida due to damage to their home. Mighty Mikey has shown his strength and bravery over the past six years, but has recently entered hospice care. In order to show their support for Mikey and raise awareness for

008

Orange for Mighty Mikey

Boy Scout Troop 147 has nearly doubled in size since last month as boys from Cub Scout Pack 147 graduated from their Cub Scout Pack and into the Boy Scout program. And just last weekend, the Troop 147 enjoyed an overnight camping trip to BSA Camp Pouch, Staten Island. The young men were honored for their achievements at the traditional Blue and Gold ceremony on March 12th where the transition from Cub Scout to Boy Scout was accompanied by awards and merit badges indicating concentrated work in areas such as Emergency Preparedness, Citizenship, Scholarship, Religion and Arts. Boy Scout Troop 147-Rockaway is based out of Fort Tilden and has been active for over 4 years in the Rockaway community. Many of the Boy Scouts are graduates of the Cub Scout Pack 147 program also run out of Fort Tilden. The Boy Scout program emphasizes leadership, outdoor/camping skills, citizenship, health consciousness and education within the framework of an organization over 100 years old. Enrollment is open to all boys ages 7 and up. For more information please contact Scout Master Bill Scanlon or Scout Leader Mike Doda at: 147cubpack@gmail.

The Rockaway Times

Page 25

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Introducing New Medicare Advantage Plans from AgeWell New York Depending on the plan, benefits may include: • $0 Plan Premium • $0 or Low Co-Pays for Doctor Visits • $0 Co-Pay for Generic Drugs • $0 Prescription Drug Deductible • Dental & Vision Care/Hearing • Transportation Benefits • Over-the-Counter Pre-Paid Cards up to $75/month • Your Doctors & Hospitals in Our Network

Providing you with high-quality health care coverage and a personal care coordinator. Because…

Members Matter

H4922_AWNY_4002 File and Use 11112014 AgeWell New York LLC is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the New York State Medicaid Program. Enrollment in AgeWell New York LLC depends on contract renewal. The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium unless paid for by the state medical assistance program. Premiums, co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles may vary based on the level of Extra Help you receive. Please contact the plan for further details. This information is available for free in other languages. Please call customer service at 1-866-586-8044 or (TTY/TDD) 1-800-662-1220 seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time or visit agewellnewyork.com.

Page 26

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

wheN ACCIdeNtS

hAPPeN...

Amstel AUtO BOdY & tOwING INC.

where the Price Is right.

SerVING the rOCKAwAY PeNINSULA FOr MOre thAN 25 YeArS

we’re there! Craftsmanship

YOUR ONE STOP SHOP

at its best!

...or nothing at all

! W NE NO JOB

tOO BIG

AMSTEL

Or tOO SMALL we take care of them all!

Accudraft Downdraft Bake Spray Booth

LEASE RETURN SPECIALISTS

Enterprise & Hertz Rental Cars Available

AM ST

344 Beach 74th Street MAIN LOCAtION

71-10 Beach Channel drive

718.634.0651

0083 RT

The Rockaway Times

BACK IN THE DAY No one could come closer to John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd than Peter Whipper Stathis and Danny Rayder as they brought their own version of The Blues Brothers to Rockaway back in the day!

!!!

s e m i T ’ l O ! "

New Intern Says Hello

By Sheneka Sharpe I’m excited to embark on this new journey as an intern with The Rockaway Times. Hopefully with the new knowledge I’ll obtain, it will help me at college in Buffalo State, with a major in journalism. My first, upcoming article will be about the LGBT community in Rockaway Park High School. This article should inform and hopefully inspire people to learn about this small community in Rockaway. As I continue to write, I’ll try to inform the people of Rockaway of everyday issues with the hope that Rockaway can become a closer community. As a resident of Far Rockaway for seven years now (at Wavecrest), I’ve seen the area grow. It’s definitely exciting to know that I might help Rockaway grow even more with my words.

Rockaway Naval Air Station – 1919 - Curtiss NC-4

!!! ! " ! Rockaway

Page 27

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

By Emil R. Lucev Sr. & daughter, Katie Lucev The honor of making the first airplane crossing of the Atlantic Ocean belongs to the U.S. Navy. In May of 1919 three big Curtiss flying boats, designated NC-1, NC-3 & NC-4 lumbered off the water at the start of the four-stage cross-

ing. Each plane had a pair of 400 horsepower Liberty engines mounted back-to-back over the hull, with one propeller pulling, the other pushing. Two more Liberty engines were placed between the wings. A tripletail assembly was mounted on booms behind the hull. During the second leg of the flight, both the NC-1 and NC-3 were forced down at sea by fog and badly damaged. One sank after the crew was rescued, while the other limped 200 miles to the Azores in the central Atlantic. But the NC-4 (shown in the photograph), plodding along at about 80 miles per hour, completed the crossing in 52-1/2 hours’ flying time, and its crew received a hero’s welcome in England.

ProHealth Excellence Urgent Care Convenience

MEDICAL PARTNERS

Choose ProHEALTH Urgent Care and get more. More confidence: • Staffed by board-certified emergency room physicians who are part of the trusted ProHEALTH network • Coordinated care with you primary physician

More options: • On-site X-Ray, lab and IV Care for quick diagnosis and treatment • Efficient, effective and personalized care for a range of health care concerns, illnesses and injuries that require medial attention, but are not life threatening • Faster and less expensive than and Emergency Room visit. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS LOG ON TO: www.ProHealthUrgentCare.com

NOW OPEN!!! ProHEALTH URGENT CARE IN HOWARD BEACH

164-50 Cross Bay Blvd. Howard Beach, NY 11414 (718) 848-8412

00680RT

More convenience: • Open 365 days a year with evening hours • No appointment necessary, walk-ins are welcome • Most insurance plans accepted

Page 28

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

The Right Note: Read The Reviews a huge proponent of a thumping bass line. He urged our party to hurry up with dinner and get to the theater in time for the opening act – sure they were going to be something if they were opening for the Shakes. The Alabama Shakes in and of themselves are a force. Their lead singer is Brittany Howard who is an amalgam of the past century’s strong female performers. Her rough tender voice can call Janis Joplin to mind, while its power and range are operatic. With her homegrown band of talented musicians backing and surrounding her with bluesy, hard rock numbers, the Shakes rocked the place. Not the least of the contributors by any means was Zac Cockrell, the Shakes’ bassist. However, much I enjoyed the Shakes, Songhoy Blues blew me away. They offered a great dollop of “support” to the Shakes in priming the crowd for the headliners. This is a four-piece band of twenty-something musicians from Mali. Their debut album, “Music in Exile” was written while the band members were in exile. As Islamist extremists went on jihad in northern Mali in 2012,

many people, including the members of Songhoy Blues, fled from Timbuktu and Gao to southern Mali and the capitol city of Bamaka. In Bamaka, the band wrote their songs and began performing in clubs in the region. Songhoy Blues songs are diversely influenced from John Lee Hooker to the folk tradition of the Songhoy ethnic people. There are layers of Hendrix and desert blues combined with funk energy and a sometimes hypnotic layering of rhythms. The best part of Songhoy Blues though is that they are so much fun. The lithe lead singer, Aliou Toure has truly fantastic dance moves. It’s like his long limbs are electrified with the guitar riffs and bass lines. He glides, girates, stomps and wiggles with such verve you would think you were watching a video on fast-forward. And they deliver a totally in synch sound. Their lyrics, not in English, are about peace and bringing people together, but there is nothing meek or questioning about their delivery. The music seems to come from such an honest place of loss and surviving and packing every bit of joy and energy into every moment

and note. Songhoy Blues is not for the faint of heart or for those who only find a performance satisfying if they can sing along to all the songs. If you like your music loud and full of energy – with a ceaseless bass line, however Songhoy Blues will not disappoint. Of course, “Music in Exile” can be accessed online, while we await their return to the states. This last visit in March was their first US tour and it only included four stops. Songhoy Blues will return to the states in June with dates and locations still to be announced. The Shakes however, will return to our area on June 5 in Monmouth, New Jersey and June 7 at Mountain Jam in Hunter, New York. Even great bands like these are better when seen in the summer.

Say you Saw It In the Rockaway tImeS

“It’s all about that bass,”…Not Meghan Trainor’s bass – although I support her message. I’m talking about that thumping bass that moves from the bass player’s fingers to the amp, through the floorboards and into your feet. That bass line that makes you feel like you’re nineteen years old again, you just – fell in love, finished your last final, scored concert tickets, called in sick to your dead end job and it’s the first day of summer to boot. When I was nineteen, I was driving my Buick Skylark out to Green Lakes in Cazzanovia with my new friend, Jessica. The Skylark was so old, FM and AM were the only choices, no cassette player – not even an eight track. The radio was blasting Led Zeppelin, “Dun-dun-dun-duh-nuh-nuh,” we sang the bass line at the top of our lungs. We’ve been friends every since. Fast forward to Thursday, March 12 at the Beacon Theater for a performance by the Alabama Shakes with “support from” (as the Beacon listed it) Songhoy Blues. My husband is a Shakes fan, as those acquainted with the band refer to them, and also

By Christine Mullaly

The Rockaway Times

Page 29

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

The family owned and operated insurance agency has been providing flood, auto, home, condo, rental, commercial business, motorcycle, boat and more not only to Rockaway Peninsula but NYC, Nassau and Suffolk since 1994 – and you can be our next satisfied customer. Top Companies Protection Your Valuable Assests Are Chubb, The Hartford, GMAC and Travelers. If you are in need of insurance, you can count on Quigley Insurance.

718-474-1915

email: mquig44441@aol.com HOT & FRESH MAKES US BEST!

CALL AHEAD FOR FAST TAKE OUT

Elegante PIZZERIA RESTAURANT

Family Dining At Its Finest

718-634-3914 • 718-634-3225

92-01 Rockaway Beach Blvd. Rockaway Beach NY 11693 www.elegantepizza.net

8RT

Baked Ziti, Stuffed Shells or Manicotti Buy 1 Get 2nd Half Off

Spring is in Full Bloom at Lana’s Loft!

Take 10%

OFF

with this coupon on all new spring merchandise! (coupon valid 3/19 - 3/24)

Happy Spring! 165 Beach 116th St, 3rd Floor • Rockaway, NY Open 6 Days A Week • 718 945 5885

008 3RT

just need to find what suits you. Yoga should make you happy and healthy in mind and body. There are eight limbs in yoga. The last four deal with control and withdrawing the senses; concentration; meditation and union with the divine. We move our bodies so that we can sit quietly and find our peace within our bodies and minds. This is no easy task, but with a steady practice of yoga using your breath, you have an aha! moment one day. You find your center, the chatter stops, silence begins to speak to you. The area in your brain that causes anxiety and panic begins to dissipate. Healing begins, slow and steady. Silence speaks volumes. There are many different kinds of brain trauma. When you meet a person who has a brain injury, treat him/her like you would want to be treated. Love, compassion and kindness are necessary to facilitate healing. Let them know it would be an honor to help them in some way. Maybe sit for a cup of tea, go for a walk, take them to a yoga class. They may be changed but they are still the same person inside. If we all took the time to help someone who lives with a brain injury, we would be assisting in their recovery. Love Your Brain and take all the steps to promote a healthy brain. Feed your brain with yoga! Question/comment? Email us at BeWellBeHappy2@gmail.com

008

Call for details

Love Your Brain This past Saturday, Rockaway Gliders held a yoga fundraiser organized by Megan Edwards to raise money for the organization called “Love Your Brain.” Bridget Killian taught an awesome 10 a.m. yoga class with approximately 25 students. They raised more than $1000 for “Love Your Brain.” Kevin Pierce started this organization to raise awareness about brain trauma. Kevin was injured in a snowboarding accident and his helmet saved his life. He wants to help people prevent injuries and also recover from brain injuries. Yoga was an important part of his recovery and he wants to share his success with others. The brain controls so many functions in our bodies, minds and spirits. Mindfulness and meditation is one of the most important tools you can use in yoga. The stretching and strengthening help to move the energy in your body but the meditation will help to heal the brain. There are so many ways to modify a pose to fit your body. Perhaps using props such as chairs, blocks, blankets, bolsters. We do not try to fit our bodies into the pose, we change the pose to fit our bodies so there is ease in the practice, allowing meditation to come easier. There are many different lineages of yoga. Some focus on strict alignment, some are formless, and some use props to support the student. In my opinion, they are all good and you

Competitive pricing for comprehensive coverage and quality service.

00857RT

The Rockaway Times is Publishing a Summer Guide Don’t Get Left Out In The Cold Call 718-634-3030 for details!!

00857RT

ADVERTISER ALERT

Page 30

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

NYCHA In Line For Largest Grant in FEMA History New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced on Tuesday, March 31, approximately $3 billion in federal funding will go toward repairing and protecting 33 public housing developments that sustained severe damage during Hurricane Sandy. It will be the largest FEMA grant in the history of the agency. Half of the funds will be designated for repairs, while the other half will be aimed at implementing resiliency measures to better protect developments from future disasters. The funding is authorized by FEMA’s Alternative Procedures, which provides a lump sum payment. Among the Rockaway NYCHA properties to benefit from this funding are Redfern, Hammel Houses, Ocean Bay Apartments, Carleton Manner and Beach 41st. The work completed with this funding will be subject to NYCHA’s recently negotiated Project Labor Agreement with the Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC) of Greater New York, as well as its affiliated unions – al-

lowing NYCHA residents to gain access to union jobs and training and helping ensure swifter capital construction. With the funding, NYCHA will be able to address damage at developments where electrical and mechanical systems were crippled or destroyed. NYCHA will take steps to make these developments more resilient to future storms. New construction of elevated boilers, installation of flood barrier systems, and stand-by generators will now help protect NYCHA residents from future extreme weather. NYCHA requires more than $18 billion beyond the funding announced on Tuesday to address its broader unmet capital needs across its portfolio of more than 330 developments. Eroding annual support for NYCHA has resulted in more than $1 billion in lost funding in recent years, hindering the Authority’s ability to keep its buildings in a state of decent repair and maintain a basic quality of life for the more than 400,000 New Yorkers living in NYCHA.

The Rockaway Times

RB Civic Holding Tree Giveaway The Rockaway Beach Civic Association is conducting a tree giveaway. The tree giveaway is scheduled to be held at the Belle Harbor Yacht Club on Sunday, April 12th. This season’s tree giveaway will include evergreen species. The event will be held from 10:00AM to 12:00 Noon at the BHYC parking lot (533 Beach 126th Street). To register online for a free tree, log on to: http:// treegiveaways.com/rca The free tree giveaway is made possible by a grant from the New York Restoration Project in conjunction with the MillionTreesNYC initiative. The New York Restoration Project (NYRP) is a non-profit organization founded with the aim of increasing green spaces in New York City and funding community garden projects. The MillionTreesNYC initiative plans to increase the total amount of trees in the five boroughs in efforts to

improve air quality. To date, the project has planted over 750,000 new trees within the five boroughs. Approximately 75 percent of the trees will be reserved through the online system. For those individuals who prefer to register in person, a table will be set up on the day of the event for walk-ins. As usual, this will be on a first come, first served basis. This is the fourth year of the Rockaway Civic Association’s involvement in the free tree giveaways. Following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, the civic has been active in fostering the rapid replanting of trees throughout the Rockaway peninsula. Joining the civic in this event will be student volunteers from the St. John’s School for Boys. The St. John’s School and Residence has been assisting in the giveaways since 2012.

SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE ROCKAWAY TIMES

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

ZWERLING

Rockaway’s Most Trusted Eyecare

OPHTHALMOLOGY

117-18 Rockaway Beach Blvd. 718.634.5808 www.rockawayeye.com

FREE PRIVATE PARKING

Lot In Back Of Building, Enter On Beach 118th Street

00295RT

Rockaway’s oldest established ophthalmology practice with the expertise, integrity and care you know and trust, now with: Expanded hours - the office is open 7 days a week, Saturday and Sunday appointments are now available, as well as early morning and later evening hours. Expanded services - thorough medical eye exams performed by highly trained MD’s, cataracts, glaucoma, newly expanded retina, macular degeneration and diabetic in-office laser treatment, comprehensive children’s exams, accurate glasses prescriptions - and much more! In-office emergency care is available at all times. We give you compassionate state-of-the-art eyecare at the highest quality available anywhere. We have nothing to sell except our expertise. There is quick scheduling for routine office appointments and much shorter waiting times in the office. We look forward to serving your complete eye care needs for many years to come!

• JEFFREY F. ZWERLING, MD • • BRIAN H. ZWERLING, MD •

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

The Rockaway Times

Page 31

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Kerry Hills the

Every Thursday Night—

... STILL

egg ■ Salt and pepper to taste ■ Butter Break matzo into small pieces into a bowl. Add warm tap water. Moisten and drain immediately. Whisk egg, add salt and pepper. Put the drained matzo into the egg and mix well. Put butter into frying pan. When the foam subsides, add the egg and matzo mixture. If you want it scrambled, start scrambling. Or pancake (omelet) form, let it sit until it browns and then turn it over. Enjoy!

BARS & GRILLS As The Rockaway Times expands its menu, so to speak, we thought it’d be a good idea to help you find the places that offer food and drinks. Or those that offer one but not the other. Bon appetit. Cheers. And here’s looking at you. Kennedy’s – Breezy Point ........................................ 718-945-0202 Sugar Bowl ......................................................(Closed for Season) Blarney – Breezy Point .............................................718-634-4503 Pebbles - Roxbury ....................................................718-634-3234 Jamesons Beach 129 ................................................718-474-9364 Pico – Beach 129th ...................................................718-945-3474 The Wharf - Beach 116 and the Bay .......................718-474-8807 Rogers - Beach 116th ................................................718-634-5308 Belle Harbor Steakhouse – Beach 116th ..................718-318-5100 Kerry Hills – Beach 115 and RBB .............................718-318-1964 Brendan’s - Beach 112 and RBB .............................. 718-634 2337 Margarita /King of Tacos - Beach 112 and RBB ......718-474-1344 Daltons - Beach 108 and RBB .................................718-634-4384 Healy’s – Beach 108 off RBB ....................................718-474-9600 Playland – Beach 97th and RBB................................347-954-9063 Connolly’s -155 Beach 95th.......................................718-474-2374 Uma’s - Beach 92 and RBB .....................................718-318-9100 The Rock Wine Bar Beach 92 and RBB ....................718-838-8916 Sayra’s Wine Bar – Beach 91st and RBB ..................347-619-8009 Bungalow Bar – Beach 92 and Bay ...........................718-945-2100 Thai Rock Beach 92 and Bay....................................718-945-5111 RBI – Beach 90 and RBB ..........................................718-474-9616 Thai Kitchen by the Sea, Beach 67 and RBB ...........718-318-8424 Grassy’s – Broad Channel .........................................718-474-1688 Ruffle Bar – Broad Channel.......................................718-318-2300 Good Eats, too Cuisine by Claudettes, Beach 116 ............................718-945-5511 Chicks To Go ............................................................718-945-4100 Goody’s ....................................................................718-318-9616

GUINNESS

Five-bottle beer buckets: $20 import/specialty $15 domestic

in Rockaway!

Come by the Hills! Open seven days a week 115-10 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Rockaway Park NY 11694

KerryHills.com ~ (718) 318-1964

Matzo brie means fried matzo in Yiddish. During Passover, matzo brie is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. You can make it in pancake form like a frittata or like scrambled eggs. There are fancier matzo brie recipes using vegetables and spices, but this is the one I grew up with. You can use whole wheat matzo, egg matzo, onion matzo or your basic matzo. Top it with jelly, salt, sugar, maple syrup... whatever schmecks you. ■ 1 sheet matzo

■1

FREE pool table

008

By Sharon Feldman

the best pint of

To be served at the Kerry Hills, you must be 21 or older. Please bring valid ID.

Supplying SupplyingAll AllYour YourBuilding BuildingMaterial MaterialNeeds Needs

• Treated Exterior Decking • Lumber • Cedar Decking • Masonry Products • Plumbing • Moulding • Trex Decking • TimberTech Decking • Sand Rakes • Composite Decking • Fairway Railings • Sheetrock • Roofing Materials • Hand Tools • Dow Syrofoam Buoyancy Billets (10”x20”x96” and 7”x20”x96”)

WE STAND BEHIND WHAT WE SELL!

0030 RT

Traditional Matzo Brie

Irish Pub

Accepting Major Credit Cards

Now Open Sunday 9am-5pm

Try our new Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup specials made on Homemade Focaccia!

y C b l a e u n i d s i e tte u C Specialty Grilled Cheese Specials • Cheddar • Bacon, Tomato, and Swiss • Avocado, Red Pepper Flakes, and Mozzarella • Bacon, Sautéed Granny Smith Apples, and Bleu Cheese • Brie and PomegranateBalsamic Reduction

Food Store & Cafe

Friendly, Rustic Atmosphere

Buy our whole bean coffee in-store! Just a couple of days off of it’s roast date, our coffee comes out delicious any way you choose to brew it! We’re carrying Oslo’s Espresso Blend (Odin) Dark Roast (Freya) and a rotating Single Origin Coffee that will change by the week!

Best Coffee in Rockaway

Home Cooked Fresh Food, Baked Goods, Pastries Find us on Coming Soon...Crepes Cuisine by Claudette @Cuisine by Claudette 718-945-5511 143 Beach 116th St • Rockaway Park, NY 11694

First Juice Bar in Rockaway with Fresh Green Juices

WiFi 00829RT

Page 32

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Strategies For Smart Retirement Planning By Daniel Twomey

A study conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute estimated that Americans born between 1948 and 1954 will face a retirement savings shortfall of more than $70,000.1 How can you avoid a similar fate? Some factors that influence your retirement savings results, such as the types of investments

available to you through your plan and the performance of the financial markets, can’t always be controlled. But there are some factors you can influence that can help keep your portfolio on track. Step 1: Stay invested. It’s not easy to see your account value decrease after a decline in the stock market, particularly after a steep, sudden drop of 10% or more. But one of the dangers of cashing out is missing a potential market re-

From Our Family To Yours Happy Easter And Joyous Passover

008

104-06 Rockaway Beach Blvd 718-318-1080

STRANDS (Closed Easter Sunday)

bound. Trying to “time” the market is a strategy even the most seasoned financial professionals have difficulty mastering. It can also lead investors into the trap of “chasing gains”; that is, moving your money from one investment that’s lagging into another one that’s currently achieving better performance. Step 2: Regularly monitor your investment mix. One of the benefits of a diversified portfolio is balance. If one type of investment is experiencing losses, another type may be earning gains. Over time, these gains and losses may cause your asset allocation to skew away from your target mix. Or your tolerance for risk may evolve over time. Lifestyle changes can also necessitate a readjustment to your allocation. That’s why it’s important to monitor your mix and make adjustments when necessary. Step 3: Increase your savings rate. Perhaps the most important way to help fund your future is to sock away as much as possible. Finding the extra money to invest can be tough -- you’ve got plenty of expenses to worry about today without the added anxiety of worrying about tomorrow. But every

dollar you can spare can make a difference. Whether retirement is just around the corner or 30 to 40 years away, regularly setting money aside -- particularly in a taxdeferred vehicle such as a 401(k) or tax-exempt account like a Roth IRA -- can often be the smartest move you can make.

2015 Retirement Plan Account Limits

Maximum contribution limit for 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plan participants: $18,000; Maximum additional “catch up” contributions for 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plan participants aged 50 and older: $6000; Maximum traditional IRA contribution: $5500; Maximum additional “catch up” contributions for traditional IRA accountholders aged 50 and older: $1,000; Maximum contribution limit for SIMPLE retirement accounts: $12,500; Maximum contribution limit for Roth IRAs: $5,500. I hope this educational resource proves helpful. I believe an educated investor is a better investor. Daniel Towmey can be reached by email at daniel.twomey@lpl.com

ATTORNEY

CONSTRUCTION

CONTRACTOR

Victor Re Attorney At Law

KIMBALL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INC.

C.J.M CONTRACTING, INC. - CHRIS MULLIN-

U.S. Construction, AC., LLC

Accidents • Criminal • DWI’s Also Other Matters

Licensed General Contrators

GENERAL CONTRACTING

Buiding Alteration & Repairs

Bathrooms • Kitchens • Carpentry Estimates Basements • Attics •Dormers and Extensions Masonry • Stoops • Brickwork Waterproofing • Pointing • Windows

718-474-1111

183 Beach 131 St., Belle Harbor, NY

Rockaway, NY

718.634.1793

Contractor

Electrician

JEMMA

CONTRACTING CORP Pavers • Stoops and Porches Cultured Stone • Brick and Block Work Concrete Work • Retaining Walls Licensed and Insured Residential and Commercial

STEVE WALLACE ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION AND REPAIR

Ceiling fans, outdoor lighting Reasonable rates, references available

CALL STEVE

347-998-1616

EXPERTS IN REPAIRING LEAKS! Lic. H18C6020000 • LIAB. DISAB + W/C INS.

Call 718-276-8558

Anthony: Cell 718-501-3465 (Licensed & Insured) NYC License 1385340

Handyman

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Handyman

C&C HOME IMPROVEMENT

25+ Years Experience in all Areas of Home Improvement & Repairs

Reasonable Rates

Free Estimates

No job too big or too small! Now Available: Power Washing Also Available for: Sub-Contracting & Real Estate Work

718-419-7790

646-715-7185 • 347-439-2902

FREE

Fully Insured

PLUMBER

Plumbing & Heating

SERVICE

FREE ESTIMATES

Serving The Rockaway Community For Over 80 Years

BELLE HARBOR

STRAIGHT FORWARD PRICING

Plumbing & Heating, Inc. LICENSED & INSURED

(917) 589-3363 • (718) 634-1433 www.soloplumbing.com

“Service The Way It Should Be”

O’GRADY Plumbing and Heating 181 Beach 116th Street 718-474-3371 Ogradyplumbing49@yahoo.com Fully Licensed and Insured lic#1612 Specializing In New Construction, Alterations, Oil To Gas Conversions Boiler Inspections, Department Of Buildings Violations Resolved And Removed

General Contractor

Residential & Commercial Interior & Exterior Renovation Bathrooms-Kitchens Basements Powerwashing Painting and Sheetrock

Roofing and Siding

- Roofing, Siding, Gutters, Leaders, Soffits, Windows - Emergency Storm Damage - Master Roofing & Sidng Mechanics Ow*Proudly Fam ily ned & Operate - Snow Removal d 148 Beach 129th St. Belle Harbor, NY 917-757-3587

We Do It All No Job Too Big or Too Small Local References Available

Call Patrick 914-615-8531 Service

READING SPECIALIST / SPEECH THERAPIST 20 Years Experience Treating Speech, Language, and Reading Eileen 917.846.4876

The Rockaway Times

Page 33

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Far Rock Softball League Stops the Violence By Katie McFadden

said. The league is also working with children in the hopes of adding a Far Rockaway little league to the

mix. While the men’s and women’s leagues are reserved for those 18 and older, the coaches have been Continued on next page

8RT

reconnection. We’re all adults now. These are people we had wars with as kids. Now we’re coming together for one cause,” Jenkins said. “It has shown that we can come out and feel safe and everyone can have a good time without having to worry about gun shots. We need to keep this going. People in the Hammels are going through war right now. We want to reach out to them. We want to get to a point, where you can go anywhere. We’re giving people something good to do and showing them that they’re appreciated. It helps build people’s confidence and shows them they can do better than running around the streets causing trouble.” Both Jenkins and Johnson have hopes that the league will branch out to something even bigger than Far Rockaway. “I would love to travel to other boroughs and continue our movement to stop the violence and just try and clean up. We can’t stop all of the violence, but on Sundays, it stops. Every day can be like Sunday.” The league has seen some changes over the years as it continues to grow and becomes more organized and structured. This season, every team will have official uniforms. They hope to have an official awards ceremony at the end of the season, in which every team and player will get some sort of trophy or medal for first, second, MVP, or even just for participating, to give players an added incentive. “We want to be able to show that everyone is appreciated and they’re doing a good job,” Jenkins

Since 2012, the Stop the Violence Softball League of Far Rockaway has been a growing outlet to “bring unity to the community.” After his mother passed away from cancer, Far Rockaway resident Willie Johnson honored her memory by holding a breast cancer awareness softball game. “Everybody wore pink and they had a good time, so they wanted to continue to play. A few days later, my friend Trevor Carson called me and said, ‘lets play some softball’. We called everyone else out and were trying to figure out what we could call the league. Since it was so bad out here, we decided to start it as the Stop the Violence Softball League in Far Rockaway,” Johnson said. The league started with just two teams, lead by Johnson and Carson, but it quickly grew into something bigger than they expected. “Everyone came out and supported us and it just got bigger and bigger. Each week, more people wanted to play,” he said. Females started to join in on the action, which lead to the creation of a female STV Softball League, with the help of James Jenkins, who aims to keep the league as a whole, organized and structured. Last year, there were five male and four female teams. This year, they have 10 male teams and eight female teams set to play when the season starts in mid-April. With the women’s league opening day on April 12 and the men’s league starting on April 19, more than 200 people will come together on Sundays for some friendly competition on the field. The men’s league will play at Redfern Playground and Bayswater Park, while the ladies will face off in O’Donohue Park on Beach 17th Street. Organizers say the league has been a positive thing for the neighborhood. “We haven’t had anything like this in Far Rockaway for a long time. We have this negative thing where we can’t have anything good here. There’s a violent incident, and it goes away,” Jenkins said. Johnson said the league seems to put an end to that stigma. “We’re going on our third year and we haven’t had one bad incident. It’s like a big family. Everyone can’t wait to come out on Sunday and play softball,” he said. Jenkins says the league has already proven that people have been able to set their differences aside and work together and he hopes it continues to spread. “The league is where people congregate. I think there’s been a great

FREE DELIVERY

to Breezy Point, Roxbury & Broad Channel ($30 Minimum)

268 Beach 116th Street, Rockaway Park, NY Tel: (718) 318-5100

Fax: (718) 318-5134

Lunch Specials 11AM - 4PM Reservations Accepted

Sunday Brunch Menu 11AM-3PM

Make Your Reservations For Easter Monday- Thursday 10AM-10PM ~ Friday 10AM-11PM Saturday 7AM-11PM ~ Sunday 7AM-10PM

Page 34

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

The Rockaway Times

Far Rock Softball League Stops the Violence

Wishing you a Joyous, Blessed Easter and a Happy Passover Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.

008

District Office: 88-08 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Rockaway Beach, NY 11693 (718) 318-0702 • (718) 318-0194 FAX

New York State Senator District 15

Celebrating 38 Years Of Serving The Community

Dr. Jay Rogoff • Dr. Allan Simon • Dr. Susan Whittred • Dr. Clifford Mardinger • Dr. Andrew Baker • Complete Surgical Suite with full monitoring of your pet on site. • Digital Radiographs taken on premises. • The most modern dental equipment used in our dental suite. • Expert grooming by a fully licensed professional. • Specialized Treatments:Chemotherapy, Stem Cell Therapy, Acupuncture. • Fun and clean separate boarding facilities for dogs and cats. The cats get to watch “Cat TV” and play on their gym. Dogs are walked several times a day and given lots of love and hugs

Continued from previous page

Monday through Friday 10-1 and 2-4 • Saturday 10-3 Tuesday and Thursday Evenings 5-7

114-10 Beach Channel Drive • Rockaway Park, NY • 718-474-0500 FREE PARKING IN REAR OF OUR HOSPITAL

www.animalhospitaloftherockaways.com

NOW SERVING

Hamburgers & Fries or Onion Rings (complete meal)

Rockaway Park, NY 11694

634-6800 • 634-6955

00 8 RT

171 Beach 116th Street

Joseph F. Keenan Attorney At Law

Phone: (718) 747 8850 jfkeenan@joekeenanlaw.com

114-04 Beach Channel Drive Suite 9 Rockaway Park, New York 11694

helping to teach kids the game, so they can play in the future little league. “Most kids out here play basketball and football, so we’re trying to teach them softball as well,” Jenkins said. The organizers also have bigger plans to give back to the community. “We want to branch to other things. We found that softball is what got all of the people out. If you have an outlet to get away from trouble, that’s a good thing. Some people don’t have anything to do or anywhere to go. So they come out for softball for five or six hours on Sunday and have a blast, but when that’s over, where do you go?” Jenkins said. “We need workshops to teach people how to make resumes and workshops for kids

where they do arts and crafts or can receive tutoring. Then they’ll have something else to do. That’s our goal.” Johnson added that at the end of the season, the league hopes to hold a fundraiser and to use the money that’s raised to buy things like school supplies and books for local children. “Good things are happening here,” Johnson said. The final day to register for the Stop the Violence Softball League is Sunday, April 5. Jenkins says the league is at a capacity where it might not be able to accommodate more teams this year, but teams are looking for extra players. For information about the men’s league, contact Wil at 908-4223392 and for the women’s league, contact James at 347-277-6250.

The Rockaway Times

Page 35

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Luxury redefined Spring Sales event y r a t n Compleme

h t n o 1st m

t n e m pay

2015 NX 200t

3 9 3 $1799 Down x

1 15 10

00 3 103 13 0 5

x 700 7 5 1 799 10 x 03 31 15

0 5

2015 GS 350 AWD

3 $2299 Down x

1 15

350 10

BAY RIDGE LEXUS 6502 5th Ave, Brooklyn

70 1 1 0 5

x 7001 3

3 99 10 x 03 31 15

0 5

866-813-0151

00902RT

Page 36

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

The Rockaway Times

Photo by Brigitte Stelzer.

P.O. Rosa Rodriguez and P.O. James Li are two of the finest examples of the newest generation of New York City police officers. Both sacrificed their health to protect their fellow New Yorkers. But if they can’t return to work, their disability benefits will be substantially less than those of their more senior colleagues.

For some recently hired police officers, those benefits amount to less than $27 a day.

Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association of the City of New York Patrick J. Lynch, President

www.nycpba.org Tier 3 - v9

008 0RT

125 Broad Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10004 • 212-233-5531

ROCKAWAY TIMES

The Rockaway Times

Page 37

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Brooklyn Boy Comes Home To Coach By Michael Leboff

After years of disappointing results, St. John’s men’s basketball program is counting on one of their own to lead the team to new heights. This week the school announced that local basketball icon Chris Mullin has been hired to replace Steve Lavin as head coach of the Red Storm. Mullin, 51, grew up just over the Marine Park Bridge, off Flatbush Avenue, and played high school basketball at Xaverian in Bay Ridge after transferring from Power Memorial as a junior. While at Xaverian, Mullin was named New York’s “Mr. Basketball” and drew interest from colleges across the country but even then he decided there was no place like home and signed on with St. John’s being coached by another legend, Lou Carnesecca. Mullin’s impact at the Queens school was immediate. He was named Big East Player of the Year three times, made three All-America teams, and took St. John’s to the Final Four in 1985, a feat the team has yet to repeat. His great college career extended beyond the Queens campus. Mullin also won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics. After his scintillating college ca-

reer Mullin was drafted 7th overall by the Golden State Warriors. In 1992 he was picked to play for the United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics alongside Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and many other all-time greats. The Dream Team is often regarded as the best basketball team ever assembled and steamrolled the competition on their way to a gold medal, the second of Mullin’s career. Mullin continued to succeed at Golden State and became one of the league’s most consistent performers. Legions of Knick fans spent ten years hoping the local team would somehow swing a trade for the quintessential local boy. It never happened. Once his playing days were over, Mullin’s greatness was officially acknowledged. His number,17 (which he chose early in his career to honor another all-time great, John Havlicek), was retired by the Warriors and he was elected into both the Collegiate Basketball and NBA Hall of Fame in 2011. Following his retirement, Mullin worked in the front office for Golden State, and more recently with the Sacramento Kings. He also did TV work for ESPN. He also became a member of the Board of Trustees at Xaverian.

Although he doesn’t have any experience coaching, St. John’s supporters are thrilled with the move. “It’s great,” said season ticket holder and local basketball coach Dan Edwards, who said he was giving up his tickets after this year’s tournament failure by the Johnnies. He’s now had a change of heart. “I’m definitely going to renew my season tickets.” Bob Leckie, an experienced basketball coach in his own right also thinks the move bodes well for the program. “Without a doubt it’s a great hire,” Leckie said. “He’s the highest profile athlete to ever come out of St. John’s and will definitely pick up the program.” This season the Red Storm qualified for the NCAA Tournament for just the second time since 2001-02. In Lavin’s five seasons as head coach, the team qualified for two NCAA Tournaments but didn’t win a game. Although this past season got off to a promising start, it ended on a sour note with star center Chris Obekpa being suspended just days before the NCAA Tournament for a failed drug test. Mullin will have his work cut out for him right away as St. John’s will lose four seniors and possibly Obekpa and Rysheed Jordan, who are mulling over declaring for the NBA

ROCKAWAY GLIDERS

Draft. While the prospect of losing up to six players will present a challenge for Mullin, it also gives him the chance to make his mark on the program. The program is banking on Mullin, who has experience scouting players from his time with Sacramento, and his staff to be able to do what Lavin and his predecessors couldn’t -- keep the local talent in New York. To help with this process, Mullin went out and hired former Iowa State assistant coach Matt Abdelmassih to be his right-hand man in the recruiting process. Abdelmassih was a stuContinued on next page

FOR OUR SPRING TRAINING SPECIAL OF 6 WEEKS UNLIMITED CLASSES FOR

200

NEW SPRING SCHEDULE STARTS APRIL 6TH ROCKAWAY GLIDERS MONDAY

5:30 8:30 9:30

5:00 6:00 7:00

TUESDAY

Spin and Sculpt Mary Spin and Abs Kristen TRX/Kettlebells Mary

5:30

Spin and Sculpt Mary Gentle Burn Mary Spin Teeny

5:00

8:30 9:30

6:00 7:00

WEDNESDAY

Kickboxing Chris Spin and Sculpt EJ Hurricane Matt

5:30

Gentle Burn Mary Kettlebells Chris Hurricane Mary

4:30

8:30 9:30

THURSDAY

TRX/Kettlebells Chris Spin and Sculpt Kristen Gentle Burn Mary

5:30

Spin and Sculpt Grace

5:00

8:30 9:30

6:00 7:00

Hurricane Mary

Class Schedule FRIDAY

Spin and Sculpt Teeny Spin and Sculpt EJ Hurricane Matt

5:30

Spin Teeny Bootcamp Chris

4:30

8:30 9:30

6:30

Bootcamp Chris Kickboxing Chris Spin and Abs Mary Spin and Sculpt Grace Kickboxing Chris

SATURDAY

8:30 9:30

Hurricane Matt Spin and Sculpt Kristen/Grace

SUNDAY

9:00

Burn ad Sculpt EJ/Diana 10:00 Spin EJ/Teeny

In April look for "open afternoon hours" – use the gym as you like. More Info Soon!

***Runners Up: The Rockaway Running Series continues with The Spring 5 & 10 Miler on 4/11 and the Mother's Day Half Marathon on 5/9. Registration and info at www.rockapulcorun.com *****

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

718-945-2063 • www.rockawaygliders.com Email: mary.rockawaygliders@gmail.com

00898RT

Page 38

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

COME SEE WHY!!

WHARF

Rockaway’s Restaurant On The Bay “ There’s No Other Place Quite Like It”

008

THE

“... A beautiful place to eat, watch the lovely sunset, have a couple of drinks... The staff is wonderful, the food is good. It’s like a little mini-vacation...” Multimedia Edition, Aug. 22, 2008

DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS MONDAY Steak(13.75), Chicken(10.75) Shrimp(13.75) Sizzlers EMTs Save Non-Breathing Baby

Brooklyn Boy Continued from previous page

dent manager at St. John’s from 2004 to 2007 and is known as one of the nation’s top recruiters. Edwards was especially excited at the prospect of Mullin being able to sign some of the area’s top basketball talents to play at St. John’s. “If he gets the best guys in the area to stay here, it’s going to make a huge difference,” Edwards said. As a native New Yorker, Mullin not only has the chance to resurrect the program at St. John’s but also to revive NYC’s once-proud basketball

TUESDAY Loin of Pork - $9.75

Things toDo

WEDNESDAY - Turkey - $9.75

Thurs, April 2, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY - Pot Roast - $9.75

Rockaway Beach Civic Meeting

FRIDAY- Chicken, Flounder, Shrimp Francaise or Shrimp Scampi $14.75

Knights of Columbus • 333 Beach 90th St. Discuss the use of the outdoor space at Playland Motel/ Tavern

Rentable For All Occasions On Jamaica Bay (Behind the Getty Gas Station) 718.474.8807

Open Year Round • 7 Days a Week Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 9am-8pm • Mon. - Thurs. 9am - 10pm • Fri., Sat., Sun.

Wed, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free Tax Services

Tues, April 7

Knights of Columbus • 333 Beach 90th St. Boardwalk update Shorefront capital update, Beach Concession update, RYTF presentation.

Cub Scout Pack 147 Meetings Fort Tilden, Building T-149 Open registration. Ages 6 through 10

Parks & Public Safety Committee Meeting

Or, Check out our full dinner menu!

Check out Young American Emerging Artists and the Human Form.

Mobile Food Truck RV • 2010 Mott Avenue Requirements: maximum income $53,000, w2 forms and SSN. 2013 returns recommended.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY - Brunch 9am - 3pm

416 BEACH 116th St.

tradition. Struggling teams on both the professional and collegiate level have tarnished NYC’s reputation as a basketball mecca and now a native son has the opportunity to restore the city to its rightful place at the top of the heap. Although living in California for many years, Chris Mullin sightings were not that unusual in Rockaway. He has family and many friends on the peninsula and just a couple of years ago he laced up his sneakers to play in a Graybeards’ basketball game. His team won.

Sat and Sun thru April 19, 12 p.m.-4 p.m. RAA Spring Art Exhibits

Studio 6 & 7 Galleries, Fort Tilden

Thurs, 6 p.m.

Tues and Thurs, 7:30 p.m. Al-Anon

First Congregational Church 320 Beach 94th Street

CHANNEL DRIVE SERVICE STATION SINCE 1949 ROCKAWAY’S BEST CAR WASH

GET THE SALT OFF SPRING SPECIAL • WASH AND UNDERCARRIAGE • SHAMPOO CARPETS • GLAZE AND POLISH PAINT • INTERIOR PROTECTOR • TIRES SHINE

NEW!! COMPLETE CAR DETAILING !!!

2500 OFF

(CALL FOR APPOINTMENT)

with coupon

ROCKAWAY’S WHEEL ALIGNMENT EXPERTS

ur o y t e s l l ’ We t! h g i a r t s r ca

$ Only

with coupon Most cars, trucks, vans. Europeans extra. Free car wash with all shop services.

with coupon

OIL CHANGE FREE CAR WASH WITH OIL CHANGE

(MOST CARS UP TO 5 QUARTS) CANNOT BE COMBINED, TRUCKS SUV EXTRA

FREE CAR WASH WITH INSPECTION

Check us out at www.channeldriveservice.com Located at 59-14 Beach Channel Dr. • 718-474-9300

INSPECTION STATION 008

NYS INSPECTION STATION

The Rockaway Times

Page 39

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Rockaway Word Search - Blooming V W J B S X S Z Q X S A C W D

Book a Children’s Birthday Party and receive a

“FAMILY FUN PACK” (for future use)

*One game of bowling for 4 people *Shoe rental *One Pitcher of soda

Specialzing In Birthday Parties Call 516-374-9870 Ext #1 TODAY

X-TREME BOWLING nlimited Bowlin

Music is Poppin. Pins Are Hoppin. Includes Shoes. Fridays

2 HOURS $ 15.99 PP

3 HOURS $ 21.99 PP

*Restrictions apply

MENTION THIS AD

Family & Friends Special! 2 Hours Bowling “ Pitcher of Soda” Shoe Rental Good for up to 5 People

$54.99 Per Lane Friday & Sunday 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

*Restrictions apply

Leagues-Groups Ask us about our ! ES U G A BOWLING LE Call Nick • 516-581-7352

00 88RT

MENTION THIS AD

Check out our website for more information www.woodmerelanes.com

I J H W A S N J J A S V U A M

Z H E W P N O Z I A E A F J A

A F I I M V I T W T S F X C S

F M L D C J T F T N O M V D T

S U O Y T E A Z O D R U I P J

T R Y T S L N E I T R H O N O

Y C E N Z P R L C B E O L E E

G L I W S S A R G H C A E B O

I O I Y O U C H E E Z P T H X

P S X L U L D A I S I E S E T

M J L B Z B F N R W G G H Y D

J F M G Y X V N E C M S K X Z

J P N X G A S E U E U Y Y R E

I D L L P F K T C S I P L J T

BEACHGRASS CARNATIONS DAFFODIL DAISIES JASMINE LILY POINSETTIAS ROSES SUNFLOWERS TULIPS VIOLETS

003 0RT

Page 40

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

BayRidgeToyota.com

DRIVE ONE HOME SAVINGS EVENT

NEW 2015 TOYOTA

COROLLA S PLUS

NEW 2015 TOYOTA

CAMRY LE

PRIUS TWO

GREAT PRE-OWNED SPECIALS OVER 100 TO CHOOSE FROM!

2013 Toyota

Corolla S

139

PER MO.

LEASE 24 MOS

Auto, 4cyl, p/s/b, a/c. Model #1864, MSRP $21,745. $2,788 Due at signing. Ttl pymts/Residual: $3,336/$15,183.

149

PER MO.

LEASE 24 MOS

Auto, 4cyl, p/s/b, a/c. Model #2546, MSRP $24,020. $2,798 Due at signing. Ttl pymts/Residual: $3,576/$14,700.

189

Stk#U29710, 4dr, 4cyl, auto, p/s/b, Barcelona Red Metallic/Black, 22K mi. BUY FOR......

PER MO.

13,995

2011 Toyota

Corolla LE

LEASE 24 MOS

Auto, 4cyl, p/s/b, a/c. Model #1223, MSRP $25,315. $2,838 Due at signing. Ttl pymts/Residual: $4,536/$17,666.

Stk#U29710, 4dr, 4cyl, auto, p/s/b, Super White/Ash, 16K mi. BUY FOR......

15,995

2009 Toyota

Venza AWD NEW 2015 TOYOTA

NEW 2015 TOYOTA

RAV4 XLE AWD

Stk#U29786, 4dr, 4cyl, auto, p/s/b, Classic Silver Metallic/Light Gray, 58K mi.

NEW 2015 TOYOTA

VENZA LE AWD

SIENNA LE

BUY FOR......

16,995

2012 Toyota

Camry SE

Stk#U29909, 4dr, 4cyl, auto, p/s/b, Magnetic Gray Metallic/Black, 27K mi. BUY FOR......

16,995

2011 Toyota

209

PER MO.

LEASE 24 MOS

Auto, 4cyl, p/s/b, a/c. Model #4432, MSRP $27,815. $2,858 Due at signing. Ttl pymts/Residual: $5,016/$19,900.

229

PER MO.

LEASE 24 MOS

Auto, 4cyl, p/s/b, a/c. Model #2820, MSRP $27,815. $2,878 Due at signing. Ttl pymts/Residual: $5,496/$21,666.

239

800.537.5201

SERVICE: PARTS:

718.439.3737 718.439.3030

SERVING ALL 5 BOROS | WE SERVICE WHAT WE SELL

SALES: M-Th 9-9 Fri 9-7 Sa 9-6pm Sun 11-5

Stk#U29847, 4dr, 4cyl, auto, p/s/b, Classic Silver Metallic/Ash, 37K mi.

PER MO.

BUY FOR.......

SERVICE: M-F 5-8 Sat 8-4 Sun CLOSED

20,995

2013 Toyota

LEASE 24 MOS

Auto, 4cyl, p/s/b, a/c. Model #5338, MSRP $32,610. $2,888 Due at signing. Ttl pymts/Residual: $6,696/$21,931.

BayRidgeToyota

6401 6th Avenue ( cor 65th St ) Brooklyn

RAV4 LTD AWD

Tacoma 4WD

Stk# U29745, 4dr, 4cyl, auto, p/s/b, Black/Graphite, 11K mi. BUY FOR.......

21,999

FREE VALET PARKING

Lease excludes tax, title, dmv fees, $75 doc fee. Lease based on 10k miles/yr, 0.15c thereafter. Due at signing= $1999 down + $650 acquisition fee + 1st mo. pymt+ $0 security deposit (waived by TFS). $250 disposition fee due at lease end, unless customer purchases vehicle or decides to re-finance through Toyota Financial Services. Lessee responsible for excess wear/tear. Used vehicles sold cosmetically as is. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Not Valid on previous purchase. Not resp. for typo errors. Photos for illus purp only. *Covers normal factory scheduled service for 2 yrs/25,000 mi whichever comes first. See dealer for details * exclusions. Valid only in the continental U.S. & Alaska. Offer expires 04/06/15. DCA No. 6240170, DMV No.887023