Rockaway Times 4-16-20

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VOL. 6, NO. 43 - THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Separate But United

See Page 4

#Frontsteps Project Helps Front Line

Photos by Linda Humphrey

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

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The Rockaway Times

RBQ Brings Comfort To First Responders food, and giving the community a chance to help make it happen. “A lot of people are interested in doing something, but don’t know what to do, so I figured it would be a great opportunity to get food supplies to first responders and healthcare workers. A lot of these people are working pretty much every day, some are working longer shifts, and they don’t really have time or anywhere to go to eat other than in the confines of their buildings. They can’t really leave, so we’re trying to take that burden off of them and bring the food to them,� Moroney said. The effort is also being extended to families whose main income workers are now out of work and have fallen on hard times. Last week, Moroney launched a GoFundMe fundraiser so locals who want to do something can help, have the ability to do so. Within a week, the campaign has raised more than $2,400, and for those not online, donations are being accepted at RBQ. The next donation spot on Moroney’s list will be St. John’s Episcopal Hos-

By Katie McFadden

As with all New York restaurants, RBQ, a relative newcomer to the Rockaway restaurant scene, was among the many local businesses to take a hit with closures. The often-packed bar and barbecue joint, known for its frequent live music, cocktail specials and delectable barbecue choices, has been restricted to takeout and delivery. The partial-closure has left owner John Moroney with financial challenges and the hardship of limiting staff, but despite this, he’s doing what he can to help first responders and those on the frontlines of the coronavirus fight. What’s a good way to bring comfort during trying times? Though comfort food, and RBQ is doing just that, with the help of those looking to do what they can for others. On April 4, with the help of the Daniel M. O’Connell American Legion Post 272 and the NYS American Legion, RBQ was able to provide food

for the 100th Precinct. On April 7, with the help of Queens Borough President candidate Elizabeth Crowley, a series of local firehouses and EMS stations, including Engine Company 265, Ladder Company 121, Battalion 47 and EMS Service Station 47, were treated to an RBQ feast. But that’s not all. Moroney is keeping the effort going throughout the shutdown to help different groups in need of some comfort

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pital, to feed those on the frontlines. He also hopes to bring food to local urgent care facilities. Moroney says RBQ will continue the effort as long as lockdowns continue, and as long as they are able. “It’s another way for us to give back to the community, which is something we’ve always been about since we opened almost two years ago. If we can play a small role in helping these folks out there during these very difficult times, we’re more than happy to do that,� Moroney said. If you’d like to contribute, donations can be dropped off at RBQ (97-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd.) or through the “Donations For First Responders� GoFundMe campaign. Search “RBQ� on GoFundMe.com to find the fundraiser. Craving barbecue of your own? RBQ continues to do takeout, including cocktails to go, and delivery all across Rockaway to Breezy Point and Broad Channel. See RBQRockawayBeach.com for a menu and call 718-318-7427 to order.

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IT IS OUR ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF OPENING. Today, we couldn’t be more thankful for our customers - from our day 1 loyalists who have followed us from Glendale then Howard Beach then to our new home of Rockaway, to our new customers who we have met within the last year and have become our friends we want to 7KDQN <RX DOO Running a family retail business in this age is not easy and we could not do it without your support. We want to let you all know that we are here to stay. We love being a part of the Rockaway community. During this time we want to give our prayers and best wishes to everyone. We look forward to seeing everyone (from a safe social distance) soon. Love, The Sorrentinos Market Staff

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The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

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PICTURE THIS: SEPARATE BUT UNITED By Christine Mullally

We can do this together, apart. #TheFrontStepsProject brings us together virtually despite being—and maybe feeling— isolated. We aim to document this time with five-minute "Front Steps Portraits" of Rockaway residents. The proceeds from these portrait sessions will be donated to the healthcare workers who are working with those suffering from COVID-19. With photos, we seek to highlight the faces of our community during a time when we do not see them at the grocery store, in houses of worship, the school gym, on the ferry or out on a Saturday night. #TheFrontStepsProject, was started in Needham, Massachusetts on March 17, 2020 when Boston photographer Cara Soulia (@CaraSoulia) and her friend Kristen Collins, kicked off the movement. One of the photographers participating in the project, Topher Cox, is a college friend. He introduced me to the idea via Facebook and I, in turn, asked local photographer, Linda Humphrey if she would like to start #TheFrontStepsProject here in Rockaway. Humphrey enthusiastically agreed, but in order to make the project fea-

Social Distancing Photography by Linda Humphrey.

sible, more help was needed. Rockaway Artists Alliance's Board of Directors agreed the agency would partner on the project and James Dalid and Regina Moerdyk stepped in to lend their expertise. We may be temporarily separated, but we are always united. So, here’s how it works: We will come to you to snap fast images of your families on your front steps, in front of the doors to your apartment building, or in front of your small business that is also on the frontlines during this crisis – and keeping things somewhat normal for the rest of us. In exchange for the professional image, we ask our neighbors to donate $30 or more. All proceeds will support those working to keep us all safe. The Rockaway Artists Alliance will act as the fiscal conduit as donations are forwarded to agencies working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our first donation recipient will be Memorial Sloan Kettering—chosen because they are working with two vulnerable populations, those suffering from the virus and those suffering from cancer. Interested in having your #TheFrontStepsProject portrait taken? Go to RAA (rockawayartistsalliance.org), click on the "Get Involved" button on the bottom of the page to fill out and submit a form. Please allow us 24-48 hours to respond with an appointment time. You will know when we are coming. Please be ready. You can step outside, where the photographer will be standing in the street in front of your home, more than 15 feet away. She will take a couple quick shots and leave. We physically interact with no one, and touch nothing, during these sessions. And the project includes families, couples, singles, all of you!

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The Rockaway Times

Contact The Elected Congressman Gregory Meeks 67-12 Rockaway Beach Boulevard Arverne, NY 11692 Phone: (347) 230-4032

Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato 9516 Rockaway Beach Blvd Rockaway Beach, NY 11693 718-945-9550 City Councilman Eric Ulrich 114-12 Beach Channel Drive, suite #1 Rockaway Park, NY 11694 718-318-6411 State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. 88-08 Rockaway Beach Blvd Room 311 Rockaway Beach, NY 11693 718-318-0702 State Senator James Sanders Jr. 1931 Mott Avenue - Suite 305 Far Rockaway, NY 11691 718-327-7017 City Councilman Donovan Richards 1931 Mott Avenue, Suite 410 Far Rockaway, NY 11691 718-471-7014 Community Board 14 1931 Mott Ave Far Rockaway, NY 11691 718-471-7300

We *do* smile and laugh with you, however, and don’t we all need a little bit of that right now? After your quick session, we will email you a link and password to view and download the digital files of your portrait. In exchange, we ask you to make a good faith donation to healthcare workers treating those with COVID-19 via the Rockaway Artists Alliance’s

Kevin Boyle PUBLISHER Pat McVeigh MANAGING DIRECTOR Katie McFadden MANAGING EDITOR Fred Marino, Frank Chimera SALES __________________________ The Rockaway Times 114-04 Beach Channel Drive Rockaway Park, NY 11694 Phone: 718-634-3030 • www.rockawaytimes.com • Email: news@rockawaytimes.com, mail@rockawaytimes.com

__________________________ THE ROCKAWAY TIMES is published every Thursday by Double Nickel LLC (USPS # 16930), 114-04 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Park, NY 11694. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Rockaway Times, 114-04 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Park, NY 11694. Periodical postage paid at Rockaway Park Post Office, 11694. Ad space reservations by Monday, 12 noon, preceding date of publication. Editorial submission must be made by Monday, 3 P.M., preceding date of publication. All letters to THE ROCKAWAY TIMES should be brief and are subject to editing. Writers should include a full address and home / office telephone number. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without permission of THE ROCKAWAY TIMES. The publisher will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to THE ROCKAWAY TIMES within five days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. THE ROCKAWAY TIMES assumes no liability for the content or re- ply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold THE ROCKAWAY TIMES and its employees harmless from all costs, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement. © 2015 Double Nickel LLC.

Venmo @RAANYC or via its website. So far, we’ve photographed more than 20 families and have raised more than $700 for Memorial Sloan Kettering. We will be posting images on Facebook, Instagram, and RAA's website. *(Publisher’s note: We love this! Here’s hoping you join the Front Steps Project! )

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

The Rockaway Times

BOYLEING POINTS

Silver Lines I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue. None of us know what day it is, unless you get The Rockaway Times by email, then you know it’s Thursday but that doesn’t make a difference anyway. What’s a Thursday? Or any other day of the week. Every day kinda feels like Saturday

but when Saturday comes, it doesn’t feel like Saturday. I put the garbage at the curb every night and then wind up taking it back on five of the nights. At least it gives me something to do. What can I say? My mind is more muddled than usual. I was trying to put together a

column with the hope of giving you a chuckle, but I’ve got nuthin’ — though I can borrow with the best of ‘em and figured I’d share. I honestly don’t know anyone who ever sniffed glue (or smoked banana peels) but the above line makes me laugh. It’s from the movie, Airplane, which stands up well, forty years later. To that, someone might say: Surely, you can’t be serious. And the response would be: I am serious and don’t call me Shirley. In the same movie, a passenger notices the person next to her who is trembling. It must be his first time flying. She asks calmly, “Nervous?” And he says, “Yes, very.” She smiles and asks, “First time?” And his answer? “No, I've been nervous lots of times.” And yes, I speak jive. I’ve seen a grown man naked. And come on, of course, I like Gladiator movies. Which for some reason reminded me of a Monty Python line. A knight, after losing both

Page 5 arms in a sword battle, dismisses the severity of it all, “It’s only a flesh wound.” And for some reason I thought of a line from Step Brothers when John C. Reilly walks in on Will Farrell and asks, “Why are you so sweaty?” “I was watching ‘Cops’.” Which reminded me of Animal House and that fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life. But that line also reminded me of one I just heard recently, if you keep a can of beer or glass of wine in each hand, you can’t touch your face. Which was another reminder that good lines aren’t just from old movies. I liked this bittersweet one I saw on Twitter that came from someone on the now-empty streets of Manhattan. “I love jaywalking!” a woman called out, “But there’s just no sport in it anymore.” Things are bad when the fun of jaywalking is taken from you. Man, I can’t wait ‘til this is over. I want to use a line I’ve never used before, “Give me a hug.”

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

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The Rockaway Times

Into the Deep: One Local’s Unique Lenten Challenge

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lenge was on. On Ash Wednesday, February 26, Gillen took a deep breath At a time when people across the world found themselves and plunged into the Atlantic, giving up much more than they expected this Lenten season due to coronavirus impacts, one Rockaway man refused to give up his promise. Neponsit resident Brian Gillen spent his 40 days of Lent— and beyond—going Into The Deep. Every day, this guardian of the Atlantic, plunged into the ocean, keeping his promise to God, practicing self-discipline and inspiring others along the way. When Brian Gillen’s brother, Kevin, who happens to be a priest, asked him what he was beginning his 40-day challenge giving up for Lent, he joking- that his brother dubbed “Into ly said, “hope.” But his broth- the Deep,” inspired by a bible er gave him something else verse. “That was a lot colder than I thought,’ Gillen said after the first dip on the overcast February beach day. It would be one of several cold days to come. Every day, Gillen measured the air and water temperature using a thermometer. Gillen is no stranger to polar plunges, having done several New Year’s Day dips in Rockaway and charity dips with the Sons of Ireland in Rumson, NJ. But dipping daily into the depths of the winter season to believe in, and a different presented a whole other chalchallenge from the usual sac- lenge. Along the way, he exrifices. “I was making fun of perienced days in the low 20s, people who give up chocolate with wind chills making it feel or something like that. What as cold as 13 degrees, and waare we, in first grade?” Gillen ter temperatures as low as 38 recalled. His brother, a Rock- degrees. Each day was recordaway surfer, then challenged ed with video evidence, with him to something different. Gillen bringing a camera along “Why don’t you jump into the for the daily dips and editing water for 40 days?” his broth- videos to post on Facebook and er said. For the longtime NYC Instagram, to hold himself aclifeguard, who has spent more countable. For Gillen, each dip was a than 30 summers protecting Rockaway’s beaches, going shock to the system. “It was into the ocean every day was Titanic water. I thought this not a novel idea—but the cold must’ve been what it felt like waters of February, March and falling overboard when the TiApril, presented a different el- tanic was going down. It’s just ement to the challenge. “I like shockingly cold,” he said. extremes. It’s mediocrity that Continued on page 7 kills me,” Gillen said. The chalBy Katie McFadden

The Rockaway Times

INTO THE DEEP

Continued from Page 6 At times, he considered finding ways around the challenge. “I thought, maybe I could just edit a previous video and change the angles around. I was very tempted to do that at some point, but this wasn’t just a challenge like a pushup challenge or something,” he said. Instead, he persevered. “Who am I cheating here? God? The definition of integrity is what you do when no one is looking. If you’re gonna do it, do it,” Gillen said. “The world doesn’t need another flake.” As he went along with the challenge, Gillen soon found that his actions were a source of inspiration. “The first 10 days, I was like, ‘I don’t know if this is a great idea,’ but then I started getting feedback from other people who saw the videos. People were getting a kick out of it, even if they were laughing at me, they were laughing, which was good. And then there were others who were

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020 authentically inspired. And in turn, that inspired me,” Gillen said. On his first day, Gillen ran into a neighbor, Sean Kellar, who joins him on a daily mile ocean swim in the summer. However, Kellar had other thoughts about Gillen’s new water challenge. “He said, ‘you’re nuts!’” Gillen recalled. But it wasn’t long before Kellar found himself caught up in the craziness. “He was one of the first people to join me,” Gillen said. And then fellow lifeguards soon followed suit, giving them a new purpose, to break the monotony of quarantine. “For a lifeguard, you rescue people by pulling them out of the ocean, but in an ironic twist, with this I was rescuing people by pulling them in to the ocean,” he said. By Easter Sunday, the final day of the challenge, Gillen was joined by a group of about 20 others who took the dip, while maintaining social distancing, of course. Completing the challenge was no doubt, fulfilling. “It was a sense of accomplishment and

if it inspired just one other person, it was all worth it. It fortified me. I’ve become more disciplined with my writing and other things,” said Gillen, an already-published author who is working on his first fiction piece, “The Winter Gnome." “It was a great exercise.” Along the way, Gillen had picked up a few tips on how to make the challenge a bit easier. He adopted the Wim Hof method—a meditative breathing technique founded by a Dutch man known

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as “The Iceman,” to trick the body into tolerating freezing temperatures. Using this method, by the end of the challenge, Gillen’s quick dips turned into five-minute hangouts in the ocean. And it has inspired him to keep going. On Monday, April 9, the day after Easter, he was right back at it, and has no plans of stopping. “I’m gonna go right into the summer. Why not? We have the ocean right here, all year, not just in the summer.”

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Page 8

***** The Mayor says schools will stay closed for the school year. The governor says that’s “his opinion.” Ugh. Both of them. Cuomo’s riding a wave of popularity for now but his heavy-handedness will wear thin soon (once again). De Blasio? Enough said. Still, we have to ask: In the most perilous of times, these two can’t get on the same page? ***** The idea of just opening up places with small populations and few, if any, reported cases of coronavirus is not all that simple. South Dakota is now home to one of the largest clusters in the United States. Three hundred people at a pork-processing plant fell ill recently. Such incidences at factories and plants can harm the supply chain and create

problems for the entire economy. We’re all connected. ***** Reminder: Please go to 2020census.gov and fill out the form. ***** According to the NYC Department of Health, there is no evidence that companion animals, including pets, are contributing to the Covid19 outbreak. Some animals, such as dogs and cats, can get infected, but there are no reports of them spreading the virus. ***** Vino By the Sea’s April 6 fundraiser to support local restaurants in feeding healthcare workers at St. John’s was a success! The Arvene wine/ liquor store had one of its busiest days, raising around $4,000 for the cause, which will go toward purchasing around 500 meals from local restaurants to support those on the frontlines. ***** Everyone’s watching a lot of TV and Netflix these days.

The Rockaway Times

Here’s a nice opportunity to catch Saving Jamaica Bay, a wonderful documentary by Dan Hendrick. It’s free through May, thanks to The Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, making it available on their website. Go to jbrpc.org/video ***** Alternate side of the street has been suspended through April 28. ***** Let's not freak out yet. The New York Post reported that the beaches might be closed this summer. It's mid-April, let's wait a bit. ***** The only "news" about the beach right now, is the Army Corps had a successful bid for groins/jetties and more good news will come within the next couple of weeks. ***** John Moroney, the proprietor of RBQ, the great bar/ restaurant on RBB, is raising money to continue to offer free food and support to first responders and those in

need. You can pitch in at his Gofundme page. Just go to Gofundme.com and search “RBQ.” This week, St. John’s Hospital will get donations. Great work, John! ***** Free Meals: The New York City Department of Education is offering three free meals available daily for any New Yorker. Any New Yorker who wants one, can get three free meals a day at more than 400 Meal Hubs across the city. Two locations in Rockaway: P.S. 104 2601 Mott Avenue Far Rockaway; the other is P.S. 183 245 Beach 79th Street. Meals can be picked up Monday through Friday. These meals hubs will operate for children and families from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and for adults from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All adults and children can pick up three meals at one time. ***** We're sad to report that Ed Antonio of St. Francis de Sales parish via St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Mark's in Brooklyn, died this week.

NEW YORKERS:

STAY HOME TO STOP THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS New Yorkers working together and staying home can slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in New York City. When you go out for essential needs, work or to get fresh air, keep distance between yourself and others and take the following precautions.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS • Keep at least 6 feet between yourself and others. • Wash your hands with soap and water often. • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing. • Do not touch your face with unwashed hands. • Monitor your health more closely than usual for cold or flu symptoms.

IF YOU ARE SICK • Stay home. • If you have a cough, shortness of breath, fever, sore throat and do not feel better after 3-4 days, consult with your doctor. • If you need help getting medical care, call 311. • NYC will provide care regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.

PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE • Stay home if you have lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer or a weakened immune system. • Stay home and call, video chat or text with family or friends who have one of these conditions.

Text COVID to 692-692 for real-time updates or visit nyc.gov/coronavirus. Call 311 to report harassment or discrimination. Call 888-NYC-WELL, text "WELL" to 65173 or chat online at nyc.gov/nycwell to connect with a counselor. *Messages and data rates may apply. Check your wireless provider plan for details.

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REDUCE OVERCROWDING • Stay home. • Telecommute if possible. If you do go out: • Stagger work hours away from peak travel times. • Walk or bike. • Do not gather in crowds.

Bill de Blasio Mayor Oxiris Barbot, MD Commissioner

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

The Rockaway Times

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This Week in History

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APRIL 16 APRIL 20 1972 - China sent President Nixon two Erika Farrell was born. giant pandas as a gift. Raymond Scott was born. 1999 - Hockey great Wayne Gretzky announced his retirement. 1912 - The Boston Red Sox played their first game at Fenway Park. They beat the APRIL 17 Katie Mitterway was born. N.Y. Highlanders (who in 1913 would beRobert Zimmer was born. come known as the Yankees) 7-6. 1969 - Sirhan Sirhan was convicted for APRIL 21 the murder of Robert F. Kennedy. Kami-Leigh Agard was born. 1970 - The Apollo 13 astronauts safely Sharon Fein Feldman was born. landed after their near-disastrous flight. JP Stathis was born. APRIL 18 Lisa Redmond was born. 1980 - Rosie Ruiz was the first womAlison Kase was born. an to cross the finish line at the Boston 1775 - Paul Revere warned Massachu- Marathon. She was later disqualified for setts colonists of the arrival of British cheating. troops during the American Revolution. 1997 - The ashes of Timothy Leary, Gene Roddenberry, and 22 others blasted into APRIL 19 space for the first space funerals. Jay Ferriola was born. Chris Gallagher was born. APRIL 22 Theresa Hyland was born. Michael Donohue was born. Christina O’Shea McGovern was born. Sean McLernon was born. 1897 - The first Boston Marathon was Richard Tirado was born. run. 1995 - The Alfred P. Murrah Federal 1864 - Congress authorized the inscripBuilding in Oklahoma City, Okla., was destroyed by a car bomb. 168 people, in- tion "In God We Trust" on coins minted as U.S. currency. cluding 19 children were killed. 1970 - The first Earth Day was observed.

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Jetty/Groin Plan Moves Forward

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Photo by Eddy Pastore

The Army Corps of Engineers had a successful bid opening for the Rockaway Groin (jetties) contract on Tuesday and is expected to make a formal announcement in the coming days. Once the final paperwork is signed off, the Army Corps will work with the City and State regarding scheduling and the overall work plan. Please continue to read The Rockaway Times for updates. During the pandemic, there will be no public meetings.

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The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Page 11

Perspectives from COVID-19 Positive A Clinical Herbologist’s Point of View By Jacqueline Ritchie Tansey

You’d think it would start benignly. A cough here, a light fever maybe. But for me, it was as if COVID-19 did a stealth attack through the back door and completely flooded my system. As someone with scientific training, while it was happening, I had an image of this novel virus, never seen before by the human population, entering my system. The virus mobilizing quickly and stealthily like a black ops team positioning itself throughout my body. Before my immune system could even recognize something was amiss, the virus had already latched onto all my ACE-2 receptors and began its rapid replication process to inhabit the country my body owned. I woke up that morning thinking I was fine. I was taking care of the usual morning business, making sure my kids were up for their homeschooling classes, making breakfasts, getting my special needs son’s meds in order. Then, what seemed like quite suddenly, I felt my whole body begin to heat up. It was as if an internal inferno was lit inside. My body just realized it had been invaded and went into lockdown, starting its first and most ancient immune response, the fever. While this fever sprung suddenly, with it came a dry heat that burnt the moisture right out of my body. I felt like a living sauna. This led to a dry hacking cough and a fatigue that was so deep seated, it was as if the very life essence of my body was evaporating with the fever. Normally, what one would do under these circumstances is listen to your body’s immune commander and go the heck to sleep. Unfortunately for me, that first day was also one of three days where our family has no health care worker to help with our special needs son. It is also the day my husband, a nurse anesthetist, went to work at the hospital doing what those

brave selfless souls do. I was my boy’s soul caretaker and needed to remain with him regardless of my own condition. I mention this because never in my life did moving my body require so much will power, nor was I ever so frightened I could transmit this potentially deadly virus to his already immune compromised system. It took every ounce of strength and love to administer his respiratory protocol to keep his lungs clear making sure to wash my hands again and again and again. I wore a mask and kept a separate change of clothes to change into to prevent cross contamination. In between his treatments, I laid on a couch in the room next to him. I am sure I was going in and out of consciousness as my body shook and burned from the inside out. I’d hear him calling me, pulling me out of my febrile malaise, forcing myself to respond to his various needs. Sometimes, maybe more often than I realized, I’d hear one of my other kids telling me through a haze that they took care of him. Finally, that evening, one of his nurses, our longest and most loyal of the crew, arrived to take over. She came in to care for him despite knowing what she was walking into. I was so relieved and grateful for her presence that I cried as I crawled up the stairs to go to bed. Once in bed, I fell into a deep, restless sleep, consumed with dreams of being trapped in a burning field. My fever raged all night, coming and going in intensity. I developed a headache leaving my forehead feeling like it was in a vice that was being tightened one notch at a time. The overall weakness was so consuming the effort of simply rolling over hurt. That night I slept almost 24 hours straight. So, you are probably asking, did I take anything for the fever and pain? The answer is no, because I rarely do. I believe in the body’s natural immune response. It knows what it’s doing. But also, two other

reasons. Despite how incredibly hot I felt I was, my fever never actually went above 102 degrees. Secondly, there’s anecdotal evidence that certain pain relievers actually worsen your condition. I wasn’t taking any chances. I was miserable enough. The next day, my husband drove myself and my special needs son to get tested for the COVID-19 Virus. My symptoms were so perfectly matched with the virus that I was quite sure mine would come back positive. What I was hoping is that my son’s would also be positive. I know that sounds strange to wish for, but once I got the full-blown symptoms, we realized the cold our son had been fighting for the last week may have been his immune response to the COVID-19 Virus as well. About a week before, he started getting low grade fevers during the night that went away during the day, body aches, an unproductive cough, body weakness and loss of appetite for a week. If he already had it, that would mean he was already building antibodies, and he was actually doing a darn good job. Meanwhile, I noticed some very strange symptoms, unlike any other virus I’d had. Namely, I’d get these moments of strength, usually after waking up from one of my many rests, where I’d be fooled into think-

ing I was on the mend. Then as suddenly as my initial symptoms kicked in that first day, the malaise would start again with that deep-seated exhaustion. This was my pattern for days. In and out of fever and malaise. Unfortunately, about six days in, I started to feel a tightening in my chest, like a corset was tied around my ribs and someone was slowly pulling the strings tighter. I was still able to take deep breaths but it sort of hurt to do it. During the night, I woke up at one point wheezing and went into a terrible dry coughing fit for 10 minutes. Now, as I stated earlier, I believe in the body’s innate ability to heal itself. The human immune system is a fantastic, complicated, beautiful network of reactions and processes and feedback loops that usually work really well together. I believe in helping your body through this process using natural herbs to support this process. However, I’m not an idiot. This COVID-19 Virus is something never before seen in this world and has caused a mass pandemic for a reason. Humans have no defenses against it but science thus far also has no answers for it. So, what I did was use my knowledge as a Clinical Herbologist and Environmental Scientist to deduct what stage the Virus was presently in my body systems and used herbs to relieve the symptoms at that moment in time. Most notably what I found helped were the “demulcent herbs.” This is a class of herbs that soothe and coat the mucus membranes, a vital protective layer that your immune system uses to protect itself and communicate with other cells. And as far as I know, there is no pharmaceutical on the market that is cable of doing this. And guess what the COVID-19 Virus is very effective at compromising? The mucus membranes, that’s why a dry cough is one of the tellContinued on page 13

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

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The Rockaway Times

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

The Rockaway Times

PERSPECTIVES FROM COVID-19 POSITIVE

Continued from Page 11

tale signs of the virus. Demulcents are especially effective as teas. So I made a quart of tea stuffed with all the demulcents I had on hand. Many of these herbs you will never have heard of, but I’ll throw a few out to you: Linden leaf, violet leaf, marshmallow root, licorice root, slippery elm bark and, of course, the age-old remedy, raw honey. A good demulcent tea will have a smooth, slippery feel in your mouth. I also threw in some common cooking spices that are known to break up phlegm with antimicrobial properties, such as thyme, sage, basil and oregano. I have now been drinking this tea throughout the day for the last few days and I swear it has done a fantastic job of soothing my throat and breaking up the thick, stuck phlegm, which is one of the real dangers of the COVID-19 Virus. Day 1 my

throat was dry and hacking and starting to get raw. Once I started the teas, my cough became ever so slightly more productive and no longer hurt to cough up the infectious phlegm. The night I started to feel the chest constriction and wheezing, my 10-minute coughing fit was productive, rather than dry and eventually cleared opening up my lungs and allowing deep breaths again. Now, while my own symptoms of the COVID-19 consumed the cells of my body, the vicious virus ran its course through the rest of my family. For one daughter, she exhibited one of the rarer symptoms, she woke up with what appeared to be a viral conjunctivitis. The whites of her eyes were bright red, veiny and hurt her terribly. She described them as dry and itchy. Thinking along the lines of my earlier dry cough, I made her a similar demulcent tea and mixed in chamomile and lemon balm which are gentle enough for the eyes and known to be effective at fighting microbes. I soaked a towel in the tea

mix and laid it over her eyes for 10 minutes. When she was finished soaking, I then rubbed fresh aloe leaf juice, which is slimy and gelatinous so it’s soothing and non-irritating (think sunburn relief ) over her eye lids. I did this several times a day. It seemed to help and she said the burning and itching were relieved, but the redness wasn’t getting much better. The following day, she fell asleep for an hour with the eye soak on. Later that night, her eyes looked significantly better with the redness almost completely resolved so it seems the extra time soaking was what she needed. The other members of my family had much more minor symptoms, myself, seeming to get the worst of it. So, as this COVID-19 Virus continues to run its course through our community and country at large, modern science has left us with no means to heal ourselves. Therefore, I am offering herbal advice to help anyone in our community during this difficult time. This is a good time for us to turn back to the original

Page 13 medicine granted to us by our earth, herbal medicine. In fact, it’s all we’ve got and there’s a lot more science and complexities to it than most realize. I’d be happy to help you and your loved ones through this stressful time. If you’re interested in learning more on how to make these teas, where you can buy them or what else you can use, I can be reached at RockawayApothecary@gmail.com Jacqueline Ritchie Tansey is a Clinical Herbologist specializing in the fine art of Herbal Medicine application and formulation. She is the founder and president of Rockaway Apothecary, an herbal medicine apothecary and formulation company and sees clients in her Manhattan location. Jacqueline has a BA in Biology from Queens College, an MS in Environmental Science & Ecology from the Univ. of Massachusetts and a post-clinical Certificate in Clinical Herbalism & Medicine from the Arbor Vitae School of Traditional Herbalism. She can be reached at RockawayApothecary@gmail.com

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The Rockaway Times

An Unforgettable Birthday By Raquel Priolo

We had a special day planned for months for our twins, Isabella and Valentina’s 13th birthday. But then, the world came to a screeching halt. Nothing could prepare us for this shocking chain of events. Trying to organize something during a quarantine, especially for a child with special needs in a wheelchair, sounded and felt impossible. I reached out to a couple of friends hoping we could organize a birthday parade, as I have seen so many on TV. It was the only thing that made sense at this time. However, I couldn’t have ever imagined such a show of love. Shannon Florist from Brooklyn delivered balloons to decorate when we couldn’t find any locally. The PS/MS114 teachers, classmates and their staff, our

local community, friends and family from Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island showed up in droves to celebrate. My eyes were full of happy tears as I enjoyed an emotional heartwarming show of support and affection that my girls, and quite honestly, all of us needed. Our girls’ birthday, April 12, fell on Easter this year, the highest holy day for Catholics. I never imagined that an army of cars that wrapped around the block would show up. Led by the FDNY and NYPD, a surprise organized by Joe Mure and Richard Keane, who know that Valentina loves them. Full of giggles, and smiles, they drove by with horns blaring, lights glaring, showing signs of love and hollering happy birthday wishes that left us all fulfilled. What we thought was a birthday failure was the ulti-

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mate birthday bash. On April 12, 2007, my girls and I almost didn’t survive. I went into kidney, liver and heart failure at 36 weeks pregnant. It was not supposed to be a happy turn of events. The

fact that we are all still here together, is why every year we celebrate tremendously. This year was unlike any other and we are truly thankful for all the wonderful people that made it possible!

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

The Rockaway Times

Page 15

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Legally Blonde Dear Editor: (Re: Boyleing Points, 4-9 issue). I never knew my wife was a brunette until this past week. It kind of shake things up a bit, for good and bad, lol. Please don’t print my name for obvious reasons. A Surprised Husband

EMS, Too Dear Editor: I note the gentleman who writes the "Lazer Speaks" column, in thanking the First Responders, neglected to mention the EMS (Emergency Medical Service). He does mention the FDNY. I must presume he thinks the

EMS in Rockaway is composed of firefighters. This is not the case. While EMS on the Peninsula is operated primarily by the FDNY, and runs from the first "combined" firehouse in Queens (sharing the "house" with Engine Company 265, Tower Ladder Company121, and Battalion [Chief ] 47), they are "mission specific" Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and paramedics. They don't fight fires, but provide top notch pre-hospital emergency medical care and transportation to the sick and injured, in effect, bringing the Emergency Room to a patient's front door, and treating that patient while moving them to the nearest hospital. They are with the patients in the close quarters of the back of the ambulance, possibly exposing themselves, despite the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) they're wearing, to the COVID-19, or other communicable diseases. Then, the crews have to worry about inadvertently bringing the diseases back home with them, and infecting

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their spouses, children, or their parents. Some members of the EMS, and the firefighters themselves, outside of the FDNY, are cross trained to handle both jobs, through their memberships in volunteer fire departments like Roxbury, Rockaway Point, Point Breeze, Broad Channel, and other VFDs in and near NYC. The FDNY, however, doesn't utilize them as dual function personnel. Respectfully submitted, Richard C Berger, Retired FDNY EMS EMT. (editor’s note: Lazer Lou meant no disrespect, of course, acknowledged the oversight and thanked Mr. Berger for his input and EMS for their work).

Thanks! Dear Editor: Last Wednesday evening, Jorge Farber personally delivered approximately 100 pounds of Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, and crème-filled truffles to our home for Dr. John and me to bring to our hospitals. On Thursday, I donned my PPE and I took my beach wagon filled with 50 pounds of chocolate and delivered Happiness to the staff of JHMC. I may not have been able to see the smiles behind the face masks, but everyone’s eyes lit up. Every nurses’ station was full of nurses, doctors, housekeepers, physical/ occupational/speech therapists, respiratory therapists, and secretaries who all gathered around to hear that the treats were donated by the owners of Madelaine Chocolate. Jorge had included in the boxes a heartfelt Thank You note from the Farber, Kaye, and Gold families, which was hung on the many nurses’ stations. Happy Easter and Happy Passover wishes were shared among the staff as they shared the treats. Dr. John delivered his 50 pounds of chocolate to the administration of NUMC. The administrators stood at the one entrance which the staff is allowed to enter and exit and handed out the Easter/Passover chocolate to their staff as they arrived for, or were leaving, from another difficult day. John and I and the staffs of

The Rockaway Times Jamaica Hospital and Nassau University Medical Center want to thank the Farber, Gold, and Kaye families for delivering a bit of happiness and appreciation in these very difficult times. Margaret and Dr. John Meringolo

Pick Up! Dear Editor: If you have been walking around the neighborhood (if you have, I hope it's with proper distancing and with a mask of some sort), you will notice people are discarding rubber gloves and facemasks on the sidewalks, on roadways, in playgrounds, in Riis Park, wherever. Not disposing of these items properly puts others in danger, especially the Sanitation people required to clean up. If you have been guilty, please consider the health of others; if you see someone doing it, please let them know. Things are tough enough, let's not make them more difficult. Richard Lipsman

Pick Up This Too! Dear Editor: I would like to personally thank the individual(s) who consistently deposit their dog waste (in the bright greenish yellow plastic bag) in my trash bin. You have perfect timing as the DSNY just finished their task of emptying it. Your lovely bag of goodies sits at the very bottom just waiting for NY’s strongest to lean all the way in to retrieve it and send it to its final reward. I can see it now, the big fella grabbing hold of your treasure, holding it up to the morning sky and admiring the glimmering colors both inside and out. Today, I actually did the recovery and it’s just another dirty job completed due to your laziness. Now, let’s get down to brass tacks. Take your dog and bag of crap home with you. Not one of your neighbors wants to deal with you or your dog waste. It is a filthy thing that you do and I for one am fed up with it! Have a little respect for us and our trash bins. If you would like to discuss this in person, knock on my door. Walter Rutherford

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Page 17

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Page 18

The Rockaway Times

P 718.945.2411 Susan Lavin • Kate Patterson • Peggy Moore • Ciji Stewart • Bronagh Rayder

THANK YOU

With continued prayers for your safety and well-being, you are all our HEROES and you SACRIFICE yourselves to help those who are extremely sick and who are alone. THANK YOU IS NOT ENOUGH. You are the DOCTORS, NURSES, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, EMT, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND OUR PRIESTS AND RABBIS. We extend our sympathy to many families here that have lost loved ones. To our friends and neighbors who now are isolated and have the virus, please know that our prayers go out to you as well for your recovery. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOU DO TO HELP US STAY AT HOME AND REMAIN SAFE.

A FEW QUOTES I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE: “SINCE YOU CANT GO OUTSIDE, GO INSIDE, PRAY, MEDITATE AND REALIZE.” “I THINK WHEN THE DUST SETTLES, WE WILL REALIZE HOW VERY LITTLE WE NEED, HOW VERY MUCH WE HAVE, AND THE TRUE VALUE OF HUMAN CONNECTION.” SENDING YOU ALL OUR LOVE, PRAYERS FOR PEACE AND SAFETY.

ROCKAWAY STAY STRONG!!

Bronagh Rayder 718-877-6324

Ciji Stewart 516-943-7356

·

Kate Patterson 917-680-8051

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Susan Lavin 347-260-3891

GERI

Geri Lipsman 917-751-8476

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Page 19

JOIN THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE – BUILD YOURS HERE. THE NEW WAVE BUILDING – HISTORY RESTORED. The former Wave Building is under new ownership and currently undergoing renovations. We are ƪ ơ build-to-suit spaces ƪ Ǥ ơ 14,100 rentable sq ft, divisible for single or multi-use purposes.

Contact: Javed: 646-688-5633 • Ed: 516-405-5031 Leasing@TheWaveBuilding.com 88-08 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Rockaway Beach, NY 11693. ·

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Page 20

Sean Fitzgerald Lic. Broker/Principal Direct 917-860-6701 Office 718-318-5030 CoastalFitz@gmail.com

CoastalRENY.com

The Rockaway Times

Mary Beth Meade 347-426-8002 Ellen May Esposito - Banks 646-209-2744 Lic. RE Salespersons

The events of the past few months have brought about a renewed appreciation for some of the things in life we may have normally taken for granted. We would like to THANK all those who work in the Medical Community; Nurses, Doctors, EMT’s, Paramedics, Biological Researchers, Home Health Aides and Support Staff for your selfless dedication and tireless efforts over the past few months. Faith, Family and Friends !!

THANK YOU !! ·

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

The Rockaway Times

Police Group Requests Closing; Gateway Remains Open On Thursday, April 2, The Fraternal Order of Police United States Park Police called for the immediate closure of all national parks in New York City after two USPP officers were diagnosed with COVID-19 and others were exposed. Many locals have been using Riis Park and Fort Tilden for walking, jogging, biking and relaxation through this time of restricted movement for the public. As of Wednesday, April 15, most of Gateway National’s grounds, roads, trails, parking areas remained open to the public. Sandy Hook in New Jersey, however, was closed, effective April 8. It is advised that all visitors follow guidance of local, state, and federal public health officials. Always remember to take common sense steps like maintaining a 6-foot physical distance and washing your hands often. Find more information

Page 21

Facts You Probably Don’t Need

about the National Park Service response to COVID-19, including tips for park visitors at nps. gov/gate Dogs are prohibited from ocean side beaches at Fort Tilden and Jacob Riis Park from March 15 to September 15 due to nesting birds. Further, Gateway is not issuing fishing/parking permits at this time, but it is honoring 2019 fishing permits until further notice. 2020 4x4 permits have been sold out. Gateway also announced that Earth Day 2020 is going digital. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, the NPS is highlighting earth sciences and stewardship of natural resources throughout April. The global celebration is going digital this year with our parks, programs, and partners highlighting online resources and things to do in your own community. More information is available on the NPS/Gateway website.

As many as 91 million chocolate bunnies are sold in the U.S. for Easter annually.

Easter—enough to circle the world three times.

In 1818, the U.S. began building a fort near the New York-Quebec border to defend against invasion from Canada. After two years of construction, they realized the fort was actually on the Canadian side. They abandoned it and named it Fort Blunder.

In 2015, BMW released an advertisement for April Fool's day. It said, "Come with any old car & get a brand new BMW." Everyone thought it was an April Fool's prank. No one came except for one lady, who went with her old Nissan as a joke. She received a brand new BMW in exchange.

The world's first mobile phone call was made on April 3, 1973, when Martin Cooper, a senior engineer at Motorola, called a rival telecommunications company and informed them he was speaking via a mobile phone.

When ships pass through Point Nemo in the southern Pacific Ocean, they are 2,700 kilometers from the nearest land. That means that at the right time of day, the nearest humans are on the International Space Station, 416 kilometers up.

16 billion jellybeans are eaten by Americans each

Facts from Sean McVeigh, factologist.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Page 22

The Rockaway Times

Space Available

BELLE HARBOR PROFESSIONAL BUILDING 114-08 to 115-14 Beach Channel Drive SPACE AVAILABLE! Get the office space your company deserves! Call Walter today @ 917-710-6298 for immediate occupancy. At the top of bustling Beach 116th Street • Rear parking lot • Short walk from Q22, Q35, Q53 bus stops, A, S subway station, NYC Ferry • 20 minutes to JFK airport • Scenic view of Jamaica Bay • Short walk to ocean beach and boardwalk • Nearby dining, shopping and more! A & L PHARMACY 115-14 BCD 718-318-5000 belleharbordrugs@gmail.com

GASTROENTEROLOGIST - DR. MEHLMAN 114-12 BCD, Suite 10 718-318-0800 jkmehl@aol.com

NYC COUNCILMEMBER - ULRICH 114-12 BCD, Suite 1A 718-318-6411 eulrich@council.nyc.gov

ANIMAL HOSPITAL OF THE ROCKAWAYS 114-10 BCD 718-474-0500 animalhospitaloftherockaways@gmail.com

GENERAL PRACTITIONER - DR. MAMTORA 114-12 BCD, Su ite 3 718-318-3580 pkmamtora@gmail.com

ROCKAWAY BAGELS 114-08 BCD 718-474-1372

BAYVIEW URGENT CARE 115-06 BCD, Suite 101 718-474-7744 BayviewUrgentCare@yahoo.com

ORTHODONTIST - ROCKAWAY BEACH ORTHODONTICS & PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY 114-12 BCD, Suite 4 718-924-2091, office@rbopd.com

CONTRACTOR - MALBRO CONSTRUCTION 115-14 BCD, Rear 516-790-1441 malbroconstruction@gmail.com

CARDIOLOGY & INTERNAL MEDICINE – NORTHWELL HEALTH

PEDIATRICIAN - ISLAND PEDIATRICS 114-12 BCD, Suite 6 718-474-3375 Dr. Lashley - marclashley1@gmail.com

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ELECTRICIAN - WTG ELECTRIC 115-10 BCD 718-393-5580 info@wtgelectric.com, wtgelectric@aol.com

115-06 BCD, 2nd Fl., 718-318-6021 Dr. Yashodhara Kirtane, Dr. Georges Labazee, Dr. James O’Connor, Dr. Susan Quinn-Torpey, Dr. Sanjay Kirtane

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CHIROPRACTOR - DR. KIERNAN 115-06 BCD, 3rd Fl. 718-945-0406 Dr.Kiernan@StressReliefMethod.com

FINANCIAL PLANNER - EDWARD JONES 115-10 BCD 347-733-5275 jane.donnelly@edwardjones.com

CHIROPRACTOR - DE SOUSA CHIROPRACTIC, PC 114-12 BCD, Suite 7, 929-254-2222 desousachiropractic@gmail.com

INSURANCE - PAT HANNING 114-12 BCD, Suite 1B 718-945-0444 patrick.hanning@prudential.com

DENTIST - DR. ROGOFF 115-08 BCD 718-318-3384 rogoffsdentaloffice@gmail.com

REAL ESTATE - CAROLE SILVERSTEIN 114-12 BCD 718-474-1414 carolesilversteinrealestate@gmail.com

DERMATOLOGIST - DR. SAINI 114-12 BCD, Suite 5 917-915-5106 ritu.saini.md@gmail.com

REAL ESTATE - LAURICE KEATING 114-12 BCD, Suite 9 718-945-9267 lauricekeatingrealty.com

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PROPERTY MANAGER’S OFFICE BEACH CHANNEL DRIVE REALTY 114-12 BCD, Suite 12 917-710-6298, walter@wtgpepc.com

And You! SPACE AVAILABLE Get the office space your company deserves! Call Walter today @ 917-710-6298 for immediate occupancy.

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

The Rockaway Times

Ask the DOC

By Peter Galvin, MD

Dementia is a word that strikes terror into the hearts of people and families. Not all dementia is Alzheimer’s dementia, however. There are multiple medical diseases and conditions that may cause dementia, and although in most cases once dementia appears, it is irreversible and incurable, there are some exceptions. While most cases of dementia are incurable, the progression of the disease may be slowed down by medications and other forms of treatment. There are a number of standardized tests to evaluate and diagnose individuals suspected of having some form of dementia. These tests evaluate a person’s orientation to time, place, and person as well as their recent and distant memory. There are seven stages of dementia. Stages 1-3 are considered “predementia.” Stage 1 actually has no symptoms. If

Page 23

Dementia Stages

dementia were an infectious disease, Stage 1 would be called the incubation period. Since there are no symptoms, Stage 1 cannot be tested for or diagnosed. Stage 1 can only be diagnosed once Stage 2 appears. No one knows how long Stage 1 may last. Stage 2 involves memory lapses, for example forgetting names that are very familiar or forgetting where an object was placed. Now, we all have memory lapses and the appearance of Stage 2 symptoms may be nothing at all or may be related to normal age-related cognitive decline, not dementia. Stage 2 is undetectable by clinical testing. In Stage 3, clear cognitive problems begin to emerge. Problems like getting lost easily, poor job performance, forgetting names of family members and close friends, difficulty retaining information read in a book or pamphlet, losing or misplacing important objects, and difficulty concentrating. In Stage 3, the symptoms begin to inter-

fere with day to day life and may cause anxiety. Stage 3 may be detectable by testing but in most cases, it is still undetectable. Stage 4 is mild dementia. The patient may be socially withdrawn and changes in mood and personality may be seen. Denial of symptoms as a defense mechanism is common. Symptoms include decreased knowledge of current or recent events, difficulty remembering one’s own personal history, decreased ability to handle finances or arrange travel plans, disorientation, and difficulty recognizing people or faces, although there is usually no difficulty in recognizing close family, close friends, and familiar places. Avoidance of challenging situations to hide symptoms or prevent stress or anxiety is common. Stage 5 is moderate dementia. There is an inability to remember major details like names of family members or addresses, disorientation to time and/or place, inability to make decisions, forgetting basic informa-

tion like phone numbers. Stage 5 interferes with basic functioning but assistance with functions like toileting and eating is not necessary. Remembering a spouse’s name and/or childrens’ names is usually still possible. Stage 6 is moderately severe dementia. Full time care is usually necessary as recalling names of family, recent events, and current surroundings is not possible. Delusional or aggressive behavior may appear as may anxiety, aggression, agitation, and loss of willpower. Wandering and sleep disturbances are common as are hallucinations. Lastly, in Stage 7 the brain seems to lose its connection to the body. Motor skills, speech and verbal abilities are lost. Full time help with eating, walking, and toileting is required. Next week I will discuss the causes of and treatments for dementia. Questions and comments may be sent to editor@rockawaytimes.com.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Page 24

HOPE My prayers are full of hope for ease of suffering and healthy mind and body. I hope you are safe and protected so you can find calm and peace in the eye of the storm. As I write, the weather outside is rather dreary, with high winds, rain and a gray sky. But I am fortunate to be in a cozy home with my family, some who are sleeping from working the night shift, taking care of COVID-19 patients. So, I can never complain about my situation when so many out there are working hard to care for those who need their services. They are hope-

ful that they can help cure the world. There are no rainbows without the rain. I see beautiful rainbows colored by the children in our community taped to the windows for us all to see. The children give us hope and we thank their parents for taking such good care of their babies. You are first responders in many ways. Take pauses for yourself and know that nothing is perfect. The experience of this time in history is the lesson. Your children will learn more in this time than inside a classroom. Be patient and have hope.

LASZLO KOVACS ALL TYPES OF DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS SERVICES

The Rockaway Times

My community arrives in the Zoom room every day at 9:30 a.m. with great big smiles and they greet one another with good mornings. Some days, we feel hopeless and yet, when we roll our mats out, we begin to feel hopeful. Our teachers have been donating their time to offer service from the heart. We are grateful to have these teachers who give us hope, security, safety and emotional support from their living rooms. Our community is the heartbeat of our studio and we are forever appreciative of their presence. There is no question, these meetings are helping us all get through the day. We talk, breathe, move and rest. It is familiar and comfortable for us to be together. On this particular day, with the dreadful weather, we are happy to stay home in the Zoom room. Breathing in, we are calm, breathing out, we are hope. Hope makes us strong and secure. We radiate this from our core center. “One day at time, sweet Jesus. That’s all I

am asking of you.” Lyrics from my mom’s favorite song. So, I ask you, what helps you to connect to your radiant self? Is it prayer, hope, trust, breathwork, movement or stillness? “When you really look for me, you will see me instantly…” Kabir says. “Student, tell me, what is God? He is the breath inside the breath.” My hope for each and every one of you is to feel this breath, be still, be safe and know we will come out of this together with hopeful and grateful hearts. Stay on the path and know there is HOPE. Hope is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson. “Hope is the thing with feathers. That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all, And the sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm That could abash the little bird That kept so many warm. I’ve heard it in the chilliest land, And on the strangest sea; Yet, never, in extremity, It asked a crumb of me. “

Joseph F. Keenan Attorney At Law

ExpeditorNY@aol.com

917-294-6540

WƌƵĚĞŶƟĂů /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŐĞŶĐLJ͕ >> ͕ EĞǁĂƌŬ͕ Eŝ͕ /Ɛ ŶŽƚ ĂĸůŝĂƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ >ŝďĞƌƚLJ DƵƚƵĂů͕ ŽƐƚŽŶ͕ D ͘ ΞϮϬϭϰ >ŝďĞƌƚLJ DƵƚƵĂů /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ

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The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Page 25

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Page 26

The Rockaway Times

Fontbonne Steps Up to Shield Frontline Workers When Michal Ashkenazy, Science Department Chair at Fontbonne Hall Academy, saw the pleas on television for Personal Preventive Equipment, she and her husband knew they wanted to help and came up with the idea to create and donate personal protective equipment to (PPE) for first responders. Ashkenazy contacted the principal of the all-girls high school in Bay Ridge, Mary Ann Spicijaric, who immediately gave her the green light to use the school’s equipment for the cause. “It is wonderful to see our faculty modeling the Mission and charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph by ‘responding to the needs of our time.’ I am so proud of them and so grateful for what they are doing to help the doctors and nurses that are fighting this terrible disease,” Spicijaric said. To assist her with this passion project, Ashkenazy also enlisted the help of her daughter and Fontbonne Hall

science teachers, Tania Rivera and Adam Williams. At the start of their work, the team encountered one of several roadblocks: the school’s FabLab had a 3D printer that could only utilize certain material and they had great difficulty obtaining it. With a fierce drive to complete this project, Ashkenazy sought out other options and on April 3 she found DXF (Drawing eXchange Format) files of face shields on the NYU website that could be created on the school’s equipment. A face shield is designed to cover the entire face with no skin exposed. Ri-

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vera, who has expertise with the laser-cutter machines, explained that Fontbonne has a Full Spectrum RetinaEngrave™ laser-cutter, which reads DXF files to create quick, high quality, and cost-efficient 2D models. Unfortunately, the team encountered another dead end when the necessary raw materials were sold out all over the country. Forging on, the team took inventory of their internal supplies and devised their own face shield. The end result was made using clear plastic binding covers and large rubber bands from the school’s main office. Ready to start production, the team met at the school on April 6, determined to create the supplies to donate to first responders. “We are feeling extremely grateful for this opportunity to be able to help our first responders as they battle against the virus. As scientists, we can all appreciate how very important it is to have proper PPE during a time of crisis,”

said Ashkenazy. With materials finally in hand, they began production immediately. However, quickly into production, the team saw that the laser cutting was singeing the thin plastic sheets and coating it with a brown film and had to come up with an alternative production method.

Ultimately, a successful production line was set up (while still maintaining safe social distancing): the mask was cut, vigorously wiped, and then assembled. The team churned out a total of 120 shields in two days to donate to an area healthcare center.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

The Rockaway Times

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LEGAL NOTICES 86-63 77TH STREET LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/25/2020. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 477 Madison Avenue, Ste 240, NY, NY 10022. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose. 1245 PUTNAM LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/02/20. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 60-04 77th Place, Middle Village, NY 11379. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. TSUAN DDS PLLC Articles of Org. filed with NY Sec. of State (SSNY) on 02/18/2020. Office in Queens Co. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 48-15 11th Street Apt #1F Long Island City NY 11101. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation: 82-03 172nd ST LLC, Art. Of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/26/2019. Office Loc.: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 137-08 31st Rd Apt #2C, Flushing, NY 11354 Purpose: Any lawful activity.

18 CAPITAL GROUP LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/26/2019. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be ser ved. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 147-39 72nd Avenue Apt 1A, Flushing, NY 11367. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Formation: JIALI TOWN LLC Articles of Organization filed with Secretar y of State of New York (SSNY) on 3/18/2020. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY designated for ser vice of process. SSNY shall mail copies of any process ser ved against the LLC to 210-12 48th Avenue Bayside, NY 11364. Purpose: Any lawful purpose or activity.

FOREST BROTHERS LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/04/20. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 467 Woodward Avenue, Ridgewood, NY 11385. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of VANNE LLC, Articles of Organization Filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/06/2019. Office location: Queens, NY. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to VANNE LLC, 4334 49th Street, Apt 2G, Sunnyside, NY 11104. Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of Anchor Capital Partners LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 3/26/20. Office located in Queens County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC to 103-17 Metropolitan Ave Queens, NY 11375. Purpose: any lawful purpose or business activity.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Page 28

Spotted: Rocking The Rock Tee At Home

The Rockaway Times

LEGAL NOTICES Notice of Formation of Ken & Lan Realty LLC. Articles of Organization Filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/04/2020. Office location: Queens, NY. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Ken & Lan Realty LLC, 52-80 70th Street, Maspeth, NY 11378. Any lawful purpose. Faith 247 LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/24/2020. Cty: Queens. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 43-23 194th St., Flushing, NY 11358. General Purpose.

Somebody get out the tape measure! The Rockaway Times t-shirt is such a natural draw, it’s almost impossible for people stay six feet apart. Of course, loving couples, such as Kathy and Bill Dickesheid can get cozy all they want. Indoor support of The Rockaway Times is appreciated! On the left, we see some baby pictures. We wonder if that’s 7-week-old Victoria Fitzpatrick Turchiano?

150 THEODORE CONRAD MEMBER LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/23/20. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 28-12 Steinway Street, Astoria, NY 11103. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of GLS3085 LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/28/20. Office location: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 48-18 190th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365. Purpose: any lawful activity. 145 5th AVENUE LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/17/20. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 104-17 44th Avenue, Queens, NY 11365. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

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Locals Remain ‘Rockaway Strong’ From a Distance By Katie McFadden

If Rockaway has proven anything time and time again, it’s that locals are always willing to step up to help others. Rockaway Beach resident Connie Gross and her son, Sean Aviles, are yet another example. Being especially vulnerable to COVID-19, Gross and her son were feeling helpless in quarantine. Following Hurricane Sandy, Gross says she and her son, who was 7-yearsold at the time, were happy to volunteer in what capacity they could. However, with the threat of coronavirus forcing them to stay home, Gross and her son, now 15, were unable to volunteer physically. “We were very bummed that we couldn’t go help at St. John’s or wherever else help is needed in our community, being that we are very high risk and on day 28 in the house,” she said. So, they decided to do the next best thing—help those who are fac-

ing the coronavirus fight head on by keeping them full. She took to social media to recruit other locals to help raise money for food for the staff at St. John’s Hospital. “If we can get through Superstorm Sandy, we can get through this. When I think back to all the help we gave each other during

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those rough times, it reminds me of just how much I love living in the Rockaways. If we all came together during those rough times, I'm sure we can now, to help our first responders. Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much,” Gross wrote in a Facebook post in early April.

Gross provided a Venmo account for neighbors to send donations and within a few days, she was able to raise $1,376. Gross immediately got in contact with St. John’s Episcopal Hospital to find out how she could help provide food to the workers there. Then she started reaching out to local food businesses that could deliver. Starting Wednesday, April 13, Gross and her son were able to have meals sent from 101 Deli to those on the frontlines at Rockaway’s only hospital. She also plans to order food from RBQ, Rockaway Bagels and Pizza D’Amore as well. Gross says this was a true community effort. “We’d like to thank the community for all of the donations. We are all in this together and we will get through this. We are Rockaway Strong,” Gross said. If anyone else is interested in helping Gross and Aviles, donations can be sent to Connie Gross through Venmo: Dayton8800

The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Page 29

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Beach 128th Street is full of people showing support for front line workers. Ann Murphy made the signs and sent us this great photo of Marie Darcy and Neeve Darcy showing support at 7 p.m. one evening last week.

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The Rockaway Times

There’s More to Stay Safe From Than Just the Virus By Gille Ann Rabbin, Esq., CIPP/US, CIPP/E

Mass disasters are often compounded by scammers seeking to profit from the circumstances. We saw this during 9/11, Hurricane Sandy, and the Boston Marathon bombing. Now the Coronavirus pandemic is attracting fraudsters who ply their trade on the unwitting, including the sick, good Samaritans, and the frightened public. Scams target not only individuals but also corporations and the government. Recently, scammers set up fake COVID-19 testing sites outside churches in Kentucky. Scammers dressed in hazmat gear charged victims over $200 per test. To compound injury, the “testers” didn’t change gloves, and obtained victims’ DNA and other personal information. Government agencies including the Federal Trade Commission are warning consumers to

the World Health Organizabe on guard against scammers tion, go directly to their sites. by being mindful of common Don’t fall prey to sham emails frauds, some of which are set claiming to be from these orout below, that target individuganizations or other experts, als: and containing links for you • Don’t fall for offers for Coroto click on—if you click, malnavirus vaccinations, prevenware might be downloaded tive medicines, and testing and infect your computer; kits. There are no products (like “virus oil”) on the mar- • Beware of phishing emails and texts that look odd, offer ket to date to prevent/cure the “free stuff ” or a “government virus; refund” of any kind, or that • If you get a call from a sham you didn’t expect or don’t robocaller pitching a coroknow the source of. Don’t navirus-themed product like click on any links, they convirus tests, bargain health intain or transmit personal info; surance or a work-from-home scheme, hang up immediate- • Don’t donate to “charities” through links in emails ly; or texts, as these could be • The government is not sendshams. Go directly to offiing texts or emails or calling cial sites to donate and make about relief checks, so if you sure you type carefully into receive a communication, igyour browser to avoid falling nore it. If you are contacted to prey to typosquatting, where provide your personal inforscammers target visitors who mation like your bank routing incorrectly type a website adnumber to get a check, don’t dress into their browser; provide it; • To get information from • Fully research any organization you believe to be a charhealth organizations like the ity (or any crowdfunding efCenter for Disease Control or

fort) to make sure it’s not fake before you donate and use a credit card (don’t pay in cash, wire money or pay with a gift card) as credit card companies generally offer some protections in the event of fraud; • Don’t buy high demand products (like masks, antibacterial wipes) from unknown vendors unless you research them beforehand, so you don’t end up paying for goods you never receive. Only pay with your credit card. If a commercial site looks peculiar or “off ” don’t use it. Furthermore, be cognizant of all sorts of scams including the ones this column has educated about over the years. For example, tax impersonation scams, identity theft, phone scams seeking personally identifying information or contributions, grandparent scams and other non-virus scams continue. If you encounter a scam, report it to the FTC via ftc.gov/ complaint to help the agency go after scammers.

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The Rockaway Times

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Page 31

Candidate Wants First Responder Testing Elizabeth Crowley, candidate for Queens Borough President, visited EMTs in Queens, helping to bring lunch and thanking frontline workers for their service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Crowley spoke with EMT’s in Elmhurst, Rockaway, and Jamaica. She is calling for New York City to set up frontline worker-specific testing sites to take care of those who take care of the public during the Coronavirus pandemic. Currently, emergency workers who are sick with COVID-19 symptoms are not getting tested and are asked to come back three days after symptoms subside. “Our borough is being hit the hardest. Queens has always been underserved, but now more than ever we need to protect the health and safety of our frontline workers in the war against COVID-19. It was both

a heartening and eye-opening experience meeting EMTs who are working back-to-back tours in Queens. I am calling on the Mayor to set these sites up as other cities, including Boston and Oakland, have done. First responders take on many risks to keep the public safe, how can we rightfully ask them to do their jobs if they themselves are not protected?” Crowley said. The election for Queens Borough President, originally scheduled for March 24, is now scheduled to occur on June 23.

Remembering Robert E. Murphy

With great sadness, the family of Robert E Murphy announced that he passed away on April 6, 2020 after a sixmonth battle with lung cancer. He was a beloved friend to all who knew him and a fantastic son, brother and uncle to his family. He will be sorely missed by all he touched in his life. Rest In Peace.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

From The Mike

Favorite Non-Athletes in Sports By Jim Sweeney

Sports entertainment is more than watching phenomenal athletes ply their craft. A number of non-athletic performers and icons deliver invaluable appeal. And I’ve got a Top 10. Starting off the list at Number 10 is Minnesota Fats. My classic comic of a chubby-cheeked and out-of-shape pool hustler may be the best choice to break the rack in the #10 slot among Favorite Non-Athletes in Sports. Along with countless sports fans, I strongly believe that pool players, poker players and NASCAR drivers don’t qualify as real athletes. However, the pudgy pool shark pictured in this comic was a pioneer in a nonsport sport that ESPN now regularly affords coverage. That’s why he deserves mention as one of my favorite non-athletes of all-time. Reference the name Rudolf Walter Wanderone Jr. and you’ll be greeted by blank stares. However, mention the name Minnesota Fats and talk of a portly, self-promoting pool hall hustler will quickly follow. Without doubt, Fats was billiards’ biggest bloviator. He earned that inauspicious title for his non-stop blustering about his personal exploits with a pool cue. Yes, he was once one colorful guy. Minnesota Fats called himself the world’s greatest pool shooter. Yet, surprisingly, there is no record of Fats ever winning an officially sanctioned tournament. Apparently, Minnesota Fats lived the legend he so masterfully manufactured.

Early in his career, Wanderone used an assortment of sassy nicknames. They included New York Fats, Fatty, Double Smart Fats and Bank Shot Bandit. He finally landed on the name Minnesota Fats, a moniker made famous by the lead character in The Hustler, a 1961 Walter Tevis film. The clever Walderone exploited the borrowed nickname for the rest of his life, and it stuck. While still a teen, Rudolf Wanderone hustled in pool halls across New York City. He became as much accomplished for making clever trick shots as he did for telling tall tales. His combination of trickery and pool cue mastery launched him on an improbable career. Fats bounced around pool halls in Illinois, Virginia and Washington, D.C. and rose to popularity as an entertainer during the early 1970s. He fully capitalized on his borrowed nickname, while displaying amazing pool talent and effortlessly conning willing audiences. This self-styled celebrity appeared years ago on late night talk shows hosted by Johnny Carson, Joey Bishop and David Frost. In addition, Wanderone starred in his own short-lived show called Celebrity Billiards with Minnesota Fats. It was on this show that he sparred with the era’s A-list celebrities that included comedians Sid Caesar and Milton Berle as well as Hungarian diva Zsa Zsa Gabor. Fats’ career reached a high point on Valentine’s Day in 1978. That day, he faced Willie

Mosconi, his longtime rival and a real 15-time world champ. The match was watched by 11 million viewers on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. Fats lost badly to the superior-skilled Mosconi, but his boastful antics and colorful personality caused his popularity to soar. With a physical size eclipsed by an even larger ego, Fats has been credited in the American National Biography for outlandish quotes. Two of his crazy claims include, “I’ve been hustlin’ since Moby Dick was a guppy,” and “I outdrew the Pope in Rome and that ain’t even good pool country.” In 1984, the Billiard Congress Hall of Fame inducted Wanderone into its elite club and officially acknowledged him for popularizing the game of pool. Fun, boastful and overweight, Minnesota Fats was

Page 33 one mighty memorable, chubby and skilled billiards player. Never an athlete, he demonstrated to the public that he could hustle in more ways than one. Minnesota Fats excelled as the consummate showman in the non-sport sport of pool. He’s certainly not an athlete. But, he’s definitely one qualified entertainer. That’s why Rudolf Walter Wanderone, Jr., otherwise known as Minnesota Fats, is an easy bank shot at #10 in Favorite Non-Athletes in Sports. Stay tuned over the next few weeks for the other icons on my list! (Jim Sweeney - the MIKE Maker and Creator of MIKE – is the ultimate talking head on sports! Go to TheEMike.com for all sorts of great sports stuff ).

A Parade for Paulie

What a special birthday! On Wednesday, April 15, fellow friends from the St. Camillus Special Olympics program, neighbors and even strangers who got word of it, lined up on Rockaway Beach Blvd. for a spontaneous car parade to celebrate Paul Fitzpatrick’s big day! People made signs, brought balloons, played music and shouted ‘Happy Birthday’ as they drove by to make sure Paulie had a day he wouldn’t forget, despite coronavirus shutdowns.

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Page 35

Things To Do

As we all continue to mark time sheltering in place during this coronavirus pandemic, I am beginning to sense that there are some of us who are beginning to fray around the edges. In this freeform, kind of weird world that we’re in right now, everybody’s internal clock has been thrown off kilter. There’s just no reference point anymore. Everybody’s just sitting around the house binge watching something on Netflix.

So I stretched out on the couch with a big bowl of chocolate ice cream smothered in hot fudge covered with marshmallows and nuts.....OK, wait a minute, I may have slightly digressed there for a moment. What I meant to say is that stripped of life’s usual rhythm by the coronavirus pandemic, it appears that many of us have lost track of the time, too. March ended without March Madness, schools remain closed. May graduations have been canceled. Church services, weddings and happy hours have been called off indefinitely. Barber shops and nail and hair salons are shuttered. For those able to work from home, daily cues like commuting and socializing after work have evaporated. Workdays blur together, and weekends are just

weekdays with fewer obligations. Even a trip to our home's bathroom, which in kinder times served as a sort of "Fortress of Solitude," now only serves as an additional measure of uncertainty as, while sitting atop the porcelain throne, we are now forced to worry if we have a sufficient stock of toilet paper on hand! Easter Sunday passed unremarkably, bereft of the normal annual family gatherings and meals. Given all that, none of us should find it surprising that we oftentimes stop suddenly and sadly wonder aloud to ourselves, "What day is it?" What to do? Firstly, get off your keister and turn off that Linda Ronstadt song "Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me" you have playing in the background. Start looking on the bright side of things. No profession-

al sports means no more overpaid pampered jocks protesting by kneeling during our National Anthem at games. Schools are closed? Take some time and start really interacting with and appreciating your children and limit the amount of technology used to "mute" the hard edges of the responsibility of rearing a child. As an aside, if you actually undertake this suggestion, ensure you have an ample supply of valium on hand! Barber shops and hair and nail salons closed? Just keep reminding yourself that there is no such thing as a bad hair day and discover the mullet, embrace your gray and be open to the wonders of the modern nail clipper. If you are truly worried about your roots showing, keep in mind that twotone heads may become all the rage! Working from

home? Remember, it's always dress-down Friday and you don't have to worry about your boss finding you playing solitaire on your computer! No church services? Save what you would have donated to the collection plate so you have some mad money when happy hours are reinstated! A wedding that has been canceled? Think of it as a nasty marital break-up avoided and again, save the money that would have otherwise gone to the marriage counselors and divorce lawyers and invest in toilet paper stock. Oh, and if you truly have difficulty remembering what day it is, get hold of the Broad Channel Historical Society and invest in a calendar. Stay safe. Broad Channel, why would anyone want to live anywhere else?

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