Senator Sanders Participates in the “Tuvalu Challenge” on Earth Day

“Second Annual Tuvalu Challenge” at Beach 86th Street and Shorefront Parkway.

In honor of Earth Day, NYS Senator James Sanders Jr. stood waist deep – and at some point, was submerged entirely – in the ocean to deliver a speech calling on the local and international community to take action towards mitigating the climate crisis that is setting our world ablaze. Emphasizing Southeast Queens as a region particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels and flooding, Senator Sanders conducted the

The Tuvalu Challenge was inspired by Foreign Minister Simon Kofe of the South Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, who dramatized the plight of his endangered nation from climate change by delivering a powerful speech while standing in the ocean on November 5, 2021. Senator Sanders then took to the water to deliver his speech and perform the Tuvalu Challenge, joined in the ocean by Assemblymember Anderson, Marcus Sibley of NWF, and Lou Harris of the Black Surfing Association. During the 15­minute challenge in the freezing ocean, each participant spoke to the importance of community efforts towards a better world, and the importance of passing proposed legislation facing New York’s elected officials right now. As Senator Sanders asserted clearly, “Humanity must vanquish climate change, or climate change will vanquish humanity. We are at a point where we have to do something about this problem, or this problem is going to do something about us. We accept the challenge. We stand in solidarity with the people of the Earth, and we understand that the problem of climate change came from the West, not the developing nations. We can show the way back by recycling, we can show the way back by electrifying and stepping away from fossil fuels, and we intend to do that.” Furthermore, the Senator drew a parallel between the experience of constituents in the Rockaways and those inhabiting island nations near and far, as during the wrath of Hurricane

Sandy, Rockaway residents observed the “bay meet the beach” with no one coming to the rescue despite sea levels rising continually.

“Senator Sanders has been a tremendous leader on climate— and his Tuvalu Challenge drives home how climate change directly affects us here in New York. This Earth Day event is an important part of our efforts to ensure that New York takes action this summer to Stop Funding Climate Destruction. The New York Tropical Deforestation­Free Procurement Act is one of the most important actions the state can take on climate this summer,” said Marcus Sibley of the NWF. As emphasized by Sibley, “Passion without legislation is just a conversation.” A sentiment Senator Sanders greatly adheres to in the fight against climate change through quality, sustainable legislation.

“The Lazer” Lou Pastina was spotted rocking his appropriately dark Rockaway Times t­shir t on the south shore of the Firth of Forth at Blackness Castle in Scotland. Even though its dark, that shirt and Lou both seem to shine bright!

So, you might notice that things look a little different throughout the paper this week. You’ve got a sharp eye! Well, we had a little incident. There was a fire at our printer’s facility located in Rockaway, New Jersey (we’re just Rockaway through and through!). We were informed on Monday that they would not be able to print for us this week (and who knows how long) and yet, here we are, three days later with a paper in your hands. Thanks to some very kind fellow newspaper people, we were able to secure a temporary spot with another printer (thank you Richner Printers!). Now, these were some hectic days, and we were at our temporary printer’s will, so you will notice some things are a little different and other things might be slightly out of the normal order. We apologize and hope to be back to normal as soon as possible. For almost nine years, The Rockaway Times has not missed a week. We plan on keeping that streak going. *****

Father Jim of St. Francis de Sales was scheduled to have his kidney transplant surgery this past Tuesday but unfortunately it was postponed. That didn’t stop Fr. Jim and his donor, Mike Coughlin, from being together on the day. Instead, they shared a lunch together at Kennedy’s! The new surgery date is scheduled for May 11. We continue to keep Father Jim and Mike in our thoughts/prayers. *****

Engine 257 / Ladder 170 / Battalion 58 held a plaque dedication ceremony at their quarters in Canarsie this past Monday, the one­ year anniversary of the day we lost FF Timmy Klein. Timmy’s mother DeeDee and Timmy’s fellow firefighter and friend Andrew Spadaro gave Timmy an amazing tribute at the ceremony. *****

Next week, we will have for you the Top 30 from The Rockaway Times Photo Contest! While the photos will be printed in the paper, for now, they will still remain anonymous as our esteemed judges have not agreed to remain sequestered for the summer.

Rockaway had quite the showing in this year’s High School Girls Basketball All­Star Team compiled by The Tablet with nominations by the league’s coaches. Five of the talented young ladies who brought home honors call Rockaway home. They could field their own team! The Rockaway All­Stars are Alexandra Carbonaro of Xaverian High School, Caitlin Mullen of Archbishop Molloy, Kaitlyn Nestor of Archbishop Molloy, Jenna Karr of St. Edmunds Prep, and Noelle Polanco of Fontbonne Hall Academy.

RBQ was officially sold and will be passing the torch to new owners. They will be having a Last Hurrah tomorrow, Friday, April 28.

On Saturday, April 29 at 11 a.m., head out to the Howard Beach Public Library, located at 92­06 156th Avenue, for Hero Story Time organized by Councilwoman Joann Ariola. Children will be read stories by local heroes including police officers and firefighters. *****

The next meeting of the Rockaway Republican Club will be held at the Belle Harbor Yacht Club on Tuesday May 2 at 7:30 p.m. The keynote speaker this week will be former New York State Attorney General candidate Michael Henry.

Almost a month after the original deadline, a budget for New York State is expected to be agreed upon by the end of the week. In the end, Governor Hochul’s controversial housing plan was stripped from the budget completely after fierce opposition from suburban legislators.