The Rockaway Times: July 17, 2014

COMPLIMENTARY – PLEASE TAKE ONLY ONEThursday, july 17, 2014 The Rockaway Times

VOL. 1 • NUMBER 2 • JULY 3, 2014 PAGE 1

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The Future Is Rockaway Rockaway Revival

VOL. 1, NO. 4 - THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

ROCKAWAY! drew thousands from all over the city and beyond to enjoy the much talked about art and music festival launched on Sunday at Ft. Tilden.

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Wounded Warriors Coming To Town

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More Sand Needed

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Rockaway Ferry A No Go

Rockaway Times • July 3, 2014 | 1 It’s a bird, it’s a plane, No it’s a guy on a jetboard, the newest attraction at Thai Rock at Beach 92nd street and the bay.

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The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

WALSH Properties, Inc. ROCKAWAY – THE HAMPTONS OF NEW YORK CITY

177 Beach 116th St. – 2nd Floor Phone (718) 945-5512 or (347) 731-0285 Fax (718) 945-5370 www.walshproperties.com www.facebook.com/WalshPropertiesInc

Curran’s Comeback Story A Year At The New Place Story and Photo By Kathy Louis

FOR SALE BELLE HARBOR LOT – BEACH 131 ST 60 x 100 and ready to build $490K. Make an offer!

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CONDO FOR SALE Ocean Grand – Two bedrooms, two baths w/terrace ……………...............…. $475K CO-OP FOR SALE Beach 118 St – Oceanfront – Hampton House – One bedroom w/terrace ....$235K APARTMENTS FOR RENT Beach 66 St – Three bedroom ………......................................................... $1,500 Beach 97 St and SFP – Two bedrooms, terrace overlooking beach.............. $1,850 Beach 118 St – Duplex two bedroom …….................................................. $1,500 Beach 121 St – Studio ……….......................................................................$900 Beach 121 St – Three bdrom duples, 2 terraces …….........................$1,800 no fee Beach 121 St - One bdrm ……………….............................................$1,300 no fee Beach 123 St – Walk-in one bedroom ………..............................................$1,250 Beach 123 St – Oceanviews – Fabulous one bedroom w/office …..............$1,500 Beach 124 St – One bdrm …………............................................................... $950 Beach 124 St – All new one bedroom, CAC, walk-in, pkg ………………......….$1,400 COMMERCIAL SPACE – FOR SALE Rockaway Beach – Two buildings back to back. Store plus apartment plus four additional units. Each unit has its own boiler and hot water heater. Great investment…...........................................................................................$800's Beach 100 St – 110 x 100. Perfect for residential development.

All offers considered.

Beach 116 St area – 800 ft……................................................................ $300K SUMMER RENTALS BUNGALOW – Beach 109 St …………....….............................. $5,000 for season Beach 97 St – Three bedrooms, two baths, parking ...….............…$20,000 season Beach 97 St – Two bedrooms, terrace……………........................…$14,000 season

WALSH MANAGEMENT CORP. Prayer for our troops.

Lord, hold our troops in your hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.

Amen.

Enter Curran’s Superior Meats anytime of the day, rain or shine, and you will see people lining up at the cold-case counter.

Laughing, chatting, greeting one another, sharing news and joking with the butchers, these are not just customers. They are friends and neighbors, Rockaway and Broad Channel survivors of Super Storm Sandy, each one with their own story to tell, each one glad that Curran’s is back.

Tom Murphy, co-owner of the Rockaway establishment, can be found milling among them, shaking hands, accepting greetings and hugs, even pecking an occasional cheek. He, like his partner George England, is one of them, a Rockaway resident and Sandy survivor. It’s been just over a year since Curran’s re-opened at 239 Beach 116th Street in Rockaway Park and Murphy gratefully thanks his loyal customers.

“The same people who came to our store before have come back,” Murphy said. He wasn’t sure his business would be able to re-open after Sandy. “It was really hard. We were out of work for 8 months.”

Before Sandy hit in October 2012, Curran’s had been a mainstay on Beach 129th Street for 50 years. Flooding and fires destroyed the commercial strip.

Murphy and England had insurance, but as residents and businesses soon found out, insurance did not begin to cover their losses.

“You can’t give up,” Murphy said. “It’s all about Rockaway coming back.”

And come back Curran’s did.

Murphy noted the business is “financially okay” after a bit more than a year on Beach 116th Street. “Our first quarter was as good as our best in the past on Beach 129th Street.”

The new shop is a bit smaller, but open the door and the mouthwatering aroma of various marinades, sausages and kabobs draws you in. All cuts of meat and poultry are available, including Curran’s famous Kansas City steaks. Sausages are made on the premises as are dry rubs and marinades. Boar’s Head products are sold as well as traditional Irish bangers.

In spite of Curran’s comeback, Murphy notices quite a few missing faces among his customers and friends. “Not everybody is back,” he said. “So many people are still struggling and haven’t been able to come back. This is all about Rockaway coming back. Don’t give up.”

And, just to prove that owners Murphy and England did not have their sense of humor washed out to sea with Sandy, Curran’s has a fun and silly Throw Back Thursday Face Book game. “Customers seem to like it,” Murphy said. “It’s just a little way to give back to our loyal friends.”

You can find Curran’s on Facebook. Take a “selfie” holding a Curran’s business card. Send it in a message and you may be Thursday’s lucky winner of a discount price for Kansas City steak “or anything else in the store” Murphy noted. Jay Leno was among the more famous winners in the past year.

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The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

What’s With The Courthouse?

Story and Photo by Bianca Fortis

The developer planning to transform the old Rockaway courthouse into a medical facility is still planning to break ground on the project later this year.

In April 2013, the city announced it had selected the Harmony Group, an Albany-based developer known for restoring old historic properties around the state, to rehabilitate the courthouse.

The building, located at 90-01 Beach Channel Drive, first opened in 1932 and served the Rockaway community as a municipal court until 1962. It eventually closed and

has sat vacant since 1976. There have been previous plans to redevelop or auction the building, but none has been successful.

Uri Kaufman, the CEO of the Harmony Group, said the project is reaching its final stages of preparation work – pulling permits, finalizing financing and other housekeeping issues – before the developer can break ground.

He said the facility will help fill the gap in healthcare resources left when Peninsula Hospital closed in 2012.

“It’s important, first of all, to do (Continued on page 16)

PAGE 3

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The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

Boardwalk May Use Smaller Support EDC Boasted 24 Inch - Quietly Moves To 20 Inch Piles

By Bianca Fortis Using smaller piles for the As originally indicated, the new Rockaway Beach Boardwalk piles will be covered with epoxy could result in a cost savings of to help inhibit decay. “hundreds of thousands of dolEngineers originally considered lars,” according to the New York reusing the old concrete and steel City Economic Development pilings for the new boardwalk Corporation. That savings – if the – which have been standing for smaller piles are used – would go about 90 years – but a series of back into the project, according tests determined that they are to an EDC spokesperson. saturated by salt and would likely At a December 2013 public soon need to be repaired. presentation at Martin de Porres Officials said they planned to School in Rockaway Park, Greg bury the old piles and build on top Clancy, a former Senior Engineer of them. That would provide an with the EDC, said the boardwalk additional layer of protection. piles, large steel pipes, would be According to a construction 24 inches in diameter. timeline from March, Phase 1 of However, this past spring, with construction – which will build no public announcement, officials the boardwalk between Beach made the decision to test 20 inch 86th and Beach 97th Streets – will piles, the EDC said. Original cost be completed around Memorial estimates for the piles came in at Day of 2015. Phase 2 – Beach 97th about $35 million. The new cost to Beach 107th Streets – could be savings will be known within a few completed by July 2015. weeks, according to the EDC. The boardwalk construction The testing took a less less than is being performed by Skanska, a two weeks, and added no time in firm based in Sweden. the overall timeline to complete John Cori, a longtime beach the boardwalk, according to the advocate and contributor to The EDC. Engineers will evaluate the Rockaway Times, said about results of the test and the EDC EDC, “They say one thing and do and the Department of Parks and another. Makes you wonder what Recreation will make the final other shortcuts and “money savdecision. ing” they’re doing.”

Beach Mats On The Way

By Jaime Jordan

As of Tuesday morning at least ten beaches between Beach 139th and Beach 149th Street were without blue “MobiMats.”

The mats help visitors access the beach following the sand replenishment project which resulted in significant hills at the entrance to every beach.

The dunes make beach access more difficult for all people, but put the elderly and disabled at a

particular disadvantage.

When the Parks Department and Army Corps of Engineers removed mats to complete sand replenishment work, they installed those mats on open areas of the beach.

Parks officials say they have exhausted the supply of blue mats in our area and are waiting for delivery of a different, but similar product. That delivery is expected this week.

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The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

Riis To Get Sand Too But Feds Can’t Say When

By Bianca Fortis

Streets. The purpose of the bags is to

By Kevin Boyle provide further shoreline protection.

There is a lot of new sand in RockaBut the shoreline protection ends way but the job is a long way from over. sharply at Beach 149th. A high wall of Sand replenishment on some Rocka- sand overlooks a barren shoreline at Riis way beaches is currently on hold until Park, right next door. the end of the hatching season for the As for the Rockaway beaches that piping plover, the endangered species of await sand, Falt said there is not yet a bird that breeds along the Atlantic coast. schedule for when this will happen, but The hatching season is, essentially, the it will likely be in August or early Sepsummertime, according to Dan Falt, a tember.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesIn 2013 the Army Corps announced person. that the sand replensihment project Sand replacement from Beach 149th would begin in September and be comDo you live in Rockway? How weeks before that, I had the logo through Beach 60th Streets is complete, pleted by Memorial Day. Weeks Marine, well do you know Rockway? Last designed and looked at it, oh, according to Falt. “The sand that’s there the company which won the bid, howquestion, how are you at catching maybe a hundred times. The in place is fully functional,” he said. ever, pulled its equipment to work elsetypos? Did you see how I spelled awning, far bigger than the sign, “That will help prevent storm damage where. The sand pumping did not begin Rockaway in the first two ques- arrived on a truck. As it passed by from everything immediately behind it.” until Spring, 2014. tions? Both times I pulled the the window a few of us grinned said much of the “disruptive” The sand middle “a.”replenishment project in- at Falt its beauty. pipeline been sitting the volves adding 3.5 million cubic yards Your brain tells you what you Nonethat of has us noticed the on typo. beach in the past few weeks will be of sand to the shoreline in Rockaway, want to see. That’s why it’s not The awning said The Rockway moved out of the way within the next few which was severely eroded by Hurricane a great idea to proofread your Times and no one noticed – unSandy in 2012. Once the piping plover days. own stuff. til they were lifting it. As three Josh Laird of the hatching season is over, contractors Now if you did catch the slip men struggled to National lift andPark affixSerit saidroof funding has been secured for will then to work on the stretch of vice right offbegin the bat, I could have used to the and storefront, I yelled placement at Jacob Riis Park, bebeach between Beach ago 60thwhen and Beach you three weeks the sand “Stop !!!!!!!!!!” tween Beach 149th and Beach 169th 19th Streets. sign and awning were delivered One of the workers thought Streets.

The NPS will work with the Army Previously 600,000 cubic yards had for The Rockaway Times. I held I was warning him away from a Corps of Engineers to tag the new project been added from Beach 86th to Beach the misspelled sign in my hands, live electrical wire. the current Rockaway Beach proj-I 149th proudStreets. of what was to be adorned ontoTake it down, take it down, thisinyear, he said.

About $5 million of the is being used to ect onSome the side of sand the little building. said a voice that a nine year has been approved for the Riis project. cover geotextile sandbags, which were Never noticed a thing. old girl might be ashamed of.

While there not yet a timeline set installed 55th to 149th Nowfrom forBeach at least a Beach couple of It was tooislate.

The sign was

Sign Of The Times

6 | Rockaway Times • July 3, 2014

rigged to the roof. As they say online: OMG. I called the shop and they said they could fix it. I stood there, heart in throat, waiting for a Wave photographer to show.

I stood there expecting a gang of proofreaders to show up and heckle. (You know what those people are like).

While they made the fix in the shop, I realized I was catching a break. It was Wednesday early evening and no one was Aaround wall of sand high and plentiful – itshows was how volleyball night. sand is in Neponsit and further east. Riis The west end is a ghost town on Park, however, needs replenishment.

Wednesday nights.

So, finally, the typo was for that it should also take place fixed project, and the awning proudly later this year, according to Mindi Ramboasted the name, The Rockaway bo, a spokesperson for Times—though asthe I’veNPS. noted preThe vagueness of a start not has been many viously, the sign must’ve in Rockaway concerned.

One Rockabig enough because every day, and way resident said, is ridiculous.

I mean every day,“This people come in And it’s dangerous.

We thinking get all this new looking for a ride, the sand to protect us but they left the side place is still home to Belle Rock door open.

The water can come rushing car service. through Thethe National I gotfrom pastRiis the Park. typo and sign Park Service should be ashamed.” looked sharp, if I don’t say so The RiisThat projectis, will provide 200,000 myself. until last week cubic of sand.sanitation It is expected that whenyards a private truck this will return the beach to its condislammed into it, knocking it from tion before itand was tearing wallopedthe

by Hurricane its frame canvas.

Sandy in 2012.

At least that’s who I think was The National Park Service announced driving the truck –though I do Tuesday that national park land within have other suspects. Anyway, the Jamaica Bay like and a Rockaway will bedog insign looks three-legged cluded in my the three-legged East Rockawaydog.

Inlet to but it’s Rockaway and Murphy.

Jamaica Bay It’s ReStep Inlet aside,

PAGE 5 Boyle’s Law: if something can go wrong, it will.

I guess I could have just lived with “Rockway.” Not that long ago there was a car service in town called Daytop. I’m figuring it was supposed be called Dayton, as in Dayton towers.

The awning guy told me about another miscue. He said one time a guy’s last name was misspelled on the sign and the sign maker, who was at fault, tried to convince the guy the misspelling looked better than his actual name.

There’s an idea. Kevin Boil.

Uh, nah. **It’d be nice if the City sent as many lifeguards to Rockaway FileEveryPhotos as they do traffic agents.

A house on Beach 149th can barely be seen where you turn the ticket writers from the beach side of Riis Park. are out. So they get you when you’re speeding and they get you formulation Study, which will evaluate when you’re parked. long-term solutions for protecting local **Bobby Bruns, long time shorelines from storm damage. all-star Graybeard basketball “Facediswith increasing posed player, doubling as threats a Brooklyn by sea level rise and global climate sales and deliveryman of The change, Gateway National Rockaway Times.

AndRecreation that’s a Area seeks to better understand how it score. can **Shout contribute out to the of imto protection Frances Sinon portant resources and neighboring comand to Kay Devlin. I’ve heard munities through Jamaica Bay and the they’ve said good things behind Rockaways,” Laird said in a statement. my back.

Falt, of the Army to Corps, said the ** Best of luck TJ McVeigh agency is currently conand Pat Brady. negotiating The two alocal tract with the Park Service for legends justNational entered the FDNY sand replenishment at Fort Tilden. academy.

PAGE 6

The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

NY Rising Projects Move Forward

Bagpipes On The Bay

By Bianca Fortis The projects chosen by the New York Rising committee for Rockaway West are in the implementation phase, according to state officials.

Chelsea Muller, of the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, said Tuesday night that the state is strategizing ways to bring the individual projects to fruition.

The different projects, which range from creating a relief center network to developing a Rockaway bike share, will be implemented by different agencies, including the state, city and non-profit groups, Muller said.

Rockaway West, which comprises Neponsit, Belle Harbor, Rockaway Park and Rockaway Beach, was allocated $21.3 mil-

lion through the Community Development Block Grants.

The committee, with input from the general public, has spent the last eight months developing a suite of projects on which to use the funds. The committee focused on projects that can be implemented quickly and whose benefits can be sent in a short amount of time.

There are 45 NY Rising communities throughout the state; none of the funds allocated for this program have been spent yet, according to officials. Muller said the governor’s office has brought on a team of consultants to implement the projects.

Alma Smith, a representative of consulting firm HGA, which

Proposed Projects

1. Bioswales to improve drainage 2. Bayside coastal protection 3. Relief center network 4. Health care service expansion 5. Long-term ferry operations 6. National Grid site redevelopment 7. Beach 108th Street improvements 8. Bus circulator service 9. Rockaway bike share 10. Net harbor park

You never know who you’ll come across when you pass along the bay. You might find an artist with a paintbrush or a bagpiper practicing.

will be working on Rockaway West, said her firm has managed more than $500 million in HUD funds, especially for infrastructure projects. The firm has worked on Hurricanes Katrina, Isaac and Irene, Smith said.

She said she could not give a specific timeline as to when contractors will be prepared to break ground on any of the projects because there are so many steps through which to pass first.

Those steps include choosing architects and consultants to de-

sign and complete the projects, performing background checks, designing the projects, making sure cost estimates are up to date and completing environmental assessments. “Yes the clock is ticking, but yes we have a timeframe,” she said. “This project is only for two years so we have to finish.”

John Cori, a committee member and local activist, expressed his frustration at the $21.3 million figure. “It’s a pittance – it’s nothing,” he said. “But it’s something.”

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The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

PAGE 7

“No More Ugly” One Garden at a Time

By Jules Verdone

A few days after Hurricane Sandy, Paul Balukas made it out to Breezy Point from his home in Bay Ridge to survey the damage to the Christ Community Church. “I opened up one of the windows,” he says, “and I saw the organ floating and all of the pews, and I thought: ‘This is probably beyond hope.’ We’re small and don’t have a lot of money—and didn’t have flood insurance.” Balukas, now the president of the church’s board, closed the window and saw someone running toward him from the parking lot. The man

which has served as Habitat’s local headquarters since he and an army of volunteers arrived in November 2012. (Killoran estimates that 8,000 people have volunteered in the chapter’s post-Sandy relief efforts.)

Balukas, who owns a bungalow in Breezy, describes three potential sites for the garden, which is pending approval from the church’s board. There’s a plot behind the church, a larger area out front that’s mostly concrete (punctuated by a few trees and a flagpole), and a piece of land between the parking lot and the church.

the will are out there.”

Habitat has 10 community gardens in Westchester County, though it takes many hands to get a garden up and growing.

Two key volunteers—Allan Simon and Breezy Point native Andrew Baker, both veterinarians at the Animal Hospital of the Rockaways, will lead crews in building the garden’s raised

beds. “We’ll provide labor, wood, skill, and carpenters,” Killoran explains. “We’re even talking about the church putting down solar panels on the roof.”

Encouraged by the growing number of gardens and farms on the peninsula—Killoran calls out Edgemere Farm in Far Rockaway—he says, “Rockaway has the potential to be one of the greenest communities in the country, in the world—by taking the hurricane and turning it around, into a place that is green, flood-proof, and can be an example for other cities.”

Balukas calls the church’s partnership with Habitat “fantastic,” adding, “They had a place to call home and host people—and slowly, we’ve almost got our church back.” He hopes sufficient work will be completed for the church’s first post-Sandy service on Sunday, August 3.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Westchester or to make a donation, go to habitatwc.org.

Say You Saw It In The Rockaway Times shouted, “Are you a member of this church?”

The man approaching was Jim Killoran, executive director of the Habitat for Humanity of Westchester. And he won’t go away, not that anyone seems to mind.

If Killoran had his way, this would be “the greenest year in history. Think if three-quarters of the Rockaways had solar power; you could probably be off the grid.” His next proposal is a community garden at the nondenominational church,

The plot selected is less important to Killoran than the mission he refers to as NMU: “no more ugly.” As he elaborates, “Every neighborhood should be NMU.... I think every kid—with a GED or a PhD—should learn to build and grow gardens. We’re typically working in the lowestincome neighborhoods, where people eat bodega food; they’re in food deserts. How can we transform an entire neighborhood?

How can we green it—have zeroenergy homes, solar panels, and good food? The technology and

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PAGE 8

The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

We Get EMail

Mayor Needs To Fix Queens Transit

Dear Editor: Now that Mayor DeLusional has not included the Rockaway Ferry in his budget, it makes even more sense to reactivate the L.I.R.R. Rockaway Beach Branch.

The L.I.R.R Rockaway Beach Branch tracks are still there. The “Right of way” is still there. The R.B.B. branch is classified as “INACTIVE”, meaning that it can be made “ACTIVE” at ANY time.

Sneaky D.O.T. speed cameras are NOT the solution to the city’s transportation problems. Mass transit improvement should be JOB 1 for Mayor DeLusional. How dare he ignore Southwest Queens !

Matthew C. Whalen

Three Cheers For Fresh Food

Dear Editor: I went to the Rockaway Youth Task Force opening of their Farmers market on Beach 58th street and Beach Channel Drive and purchased a shopping bag loaded with romaine lettuce, green squash, carrots, radishes and red onions.

Everyone should try their fresh produce!

Keep up the good work Rockaway Youth Task Force. What a great bunch of youngsters.

Danny Ruscillo

Let City Hall Hear It

Dear Editor: We can’t bike up and down the peninsula smoothly because there is no boardwalk. The ferry is slated to end in October taking away what was the fastest means of getting to the city. The DOT places speed cameras to operate at all hours of the day, to fine drivers who are speeding passed a school zone to get over the bridge (in the name of safety) instead of putting signs, large painted crosswalks, flashing lights...etc.

The only true express option to the city via public transportation are the express buses, which operate for two hours in the morning to get in and three hours in the evening to get home. The A train may be labeled express for a couple hours, but anyone who takes that option knows the route, and it is anything but express or an easy trip.

Enough is enough. If the city is pushing us to get to work at a walking pace, let’s walk right up to City Hall and be heard.

Ryan Ford

Pier For Thought

Dear Editor: Why not a Santa Monica type pier off 95th street along with a fishing and crabbing pier off 97th street? The Plaza parking on 95th would also help to attract tourists.

Bo Gallagher

Thanks To Community

Dear Editor: On behalf of our Wounded Warriors, their families, the staff and board of directors of Wounded Warrior Project I wanted to thank the people of Breezy Point, Rockaway Point, Roxbury and Belle Harbor for ten years of tremendous support and phenomenal hospitality as to Wounded Warrior Project’s Annual Adaptive Aquatics Weekend.

There’s a reason that the western half of the Rockaways is referred to as the Patriotic Peninsula Paradise - its people are salt of the earth and great Americans.

Thank you very much.

Roger C. Campbell Board Director Wounded Warrior Project

Speeding To Fill The Coffers

Dear Editor: Great post (on Rockawaytimes.com) Rick! DOT, our elected officials and our esteemed mayor are not at all interested in slowing traffic down. (Please remember Mayor Vision Zero speeding around Queens, blowing stop signs and changing lanes without signaling as reported by the local TV news!) The speed cameras are the politicians’ new piggy bank for their fat-laden pork projects.

My recommendation to anyone caught in this deceitful State program is to plead “Not Guilty” and ask if the speed cameras are calibrated, who calibrated it, and demand a copy of the logbook documenting these items (as required by State law) and what times the school was in session!

My guess is that these cameras are probably not very accurate.

Unlike a red-light camera summons where the evidence is overwhelmingly irrefutable, there are many variables that the city should have to prove to find a citizen guilty.

We, as a people, should never be found guilty on the word of a New York City governmen-

tal agency! The city should be required to prove their case.

Sadly, our elected officials are allowing DOT to be unaccountable to us.

Gerard Cunningham

Rick Has Another Say On DOT

Dear Editor, Apparently some Rockaway Times readers are upset with me for warning drivers about the new speed cameras on Beach Channel Drive and Rockaway Beach Blvd. give me a break! To set the record straight, the NYPD is not issuing these tickets, the Department of Transportation is Secondly, nobody is condoning careless driving that puts kids at risk. Lastly, “he looks like an ignorant and uneducated person,” ouch!

My motivation for the speed camera warning signs was to provide otherwise law abiding citizens with a heads-up that the City’s rules, or at least the enforcement of those rules, had changed. If the DOT were really concerned with slowing people down around schools, they would have erected their own signs, believe me, they work. Besides, I would have rather been at the beach.

Anyone who thinks that this ticket blitz is about safeguarding

our children rather than the City raising a quick buck is deluding themselves. There is an amazing lack of any sort of notice, not just about the speed cameras, but there are no signs to indicate that you are entering a school zone. Additionally, DOT has also chosen not to erect any speed limit signs of any kind anywhere nearby. The schools merely serve as political cover for the City’s money grab, and unfortunately a lot of people fall for it.

I’m not sure if this lack of signage affects the legitimacy of the thousands of tickets already issued, but since the speed cameras can only be used in school zones, shouldn’t drivers be made aware of where the school zone starts and where it ends? Hopefully there’s an attorney somewhere looking into this question.

To complete the BCD gauntlet there are two traffic lights at B104th St. and B101st, their mindless timers stopping thousands of cars day and night even though school is in session only a fraction of the time. For example summer school schedules are 9 AM to 1 PM, Monday through Wednesday. That’s 12 hours out of 168 hours a week or just 7% of the time. (A recent study revealed that we are wasting over 130,000 hours annually at these (Continued on page 24)

COMPLIMENTARY – PLEASE TAKE ONLY ONE

VOL. 1 • NUMBER 2 • JULY 3, 2014

Rockaway Revival Publisher / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kevin Boyle REPORTER Bianca Fortis CONTRIBUTORS Jules Verdone • Kathy Louis SALES Fred Marino • Kathleen Lalsie • Erika Farrell Design and Layout

ROCKAWAY! drew thousands from all over the city See and beyond to enjoy the much talkedGraphics about Dragonfly LLCcoverage on pages art and music festival launched on Sunday at Ft. Tilden.

2-3

THE ROCKAWAY TIMES 114-04 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Park, NY 11694 See See See Phone • 718-634-3030 | e-mail • news@rockawaytimes.com Page 5 Page 6 Page 15 Wounded Warriors

More Sand

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Rockaway Times • July 3, 2014 |

The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

Editorial

PAGE 9

Patti Smith Bed Update

A Hole In The Wall Riis Park is out of sight, out of mind, for most people in Rockaway. There’s really not much reason to go unless you want to play a little golf or play some basketball. The only time it gets real use by Rockaway people is on Wednesday nights when hundreds of people show to play in the very popular Rockaway Beach Volleyball League.

But there’s hardly reason to observe what’s going on with Mother Nature. The volleyball league is situated at the widest swath of sand at Riis. The ocean seems a good distance away.

The truth is, Riis is starving for sand. And so is its next door neighbor, Fort Tilden.

There is a wall of sand at Beach 149th Street, where the Army Corps stopped its beach replenishment program. On one side of the wall, Rockaway is protected by a newly wide beach. The other side of the wall – which few people take a peek at – is another story. There is virtually no sand at Bay 1, the eastern end of Riis.

Although it’s out of sight, it shouldn’t be out of mind. If Riis does not get sand on its beach it will suck the sand from Rockaway. YOUR beaches will shrink.

And that’s not all. The new

sand you see now will offer some protection from storm surges, the new baffle walls will help as well. But Rockaway is like a house that puts sand bags on one side only; it’s like a house that leaves the side door open as water surrounds it.

Rockaway neighborhoods, particularly on the west end including Breezy Point, are well protected from crashing waves but water will find its way into neighborhoods via Riis Park and Fort Tilden.

We know money has been set aside for replenishment. Apparently, there are voices urging against replenishment and that beaches should be allowed to develop naturally (damn the residents). We can’t blame this on the piping plover but it’s the same kind of mentality. We’re sure of one thing, those voices who don’t want protection don’t live anywhere near the ocean.

This inaction is on the Fed side. Time for another Chuck Schumer intervention. Time for our congressman, Gregory Meeks, to reappear from hiding, and make some noise.

Riis Park and Fort Tilden might be out of sight, but they shouldn’t be out of mind.

It’s only about our safety after all.

Patti Smith’s art installation at Fort Tilden consists of a bed left out to the elements.

After a couple of weeks exposed to some heavy storms, the bed is proving quite resilient! This is part of Rockaway! the art exhibit hosted by the Rockaway Artists Alliance (RAA) in collaboration with MoMA, the NPS and the Jamaica Bay Rockaway Parks Conservancy.

Photo by Kevin Lunny

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PAGE 10

The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

Pavilion Money Pleases Queens Pols

Your

relaxing get away by the Beach

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Lawmakers celebrated a significant chunk of money set aside in the city budget to preserve and renovate the New York State Pavilion.

Queen bed, WiFi, AC, all private bath steps to the Ocean!!

By Phil Corso

The New York State Pavilion has finally gotten its fair share, elected officials said.

Leaders from across the borough came out in support of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s city budget this week, particularly because it allocated more than $4.8 million towards restoring the storied site in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Borough President Melinda Katz has been one of many officials pushing for funding to help renovate the site in wake of the April 22, 1964 anniversary on Queens natives’ minds for months. She said the money was long overdue to help bring the spot back to the status it once held at its inception.

The borough president took to the historic location with other elected officials several times this year to advocate for city money in order to keep it from falling into severe disrepair.

“Along with the nearby Unisphere, the New York State Pavilion has become a symbol of the borough of Queens that reminds us of the excitement and hopefulness the world felt at the beginning of the Space Age,” Katz said. “The Pavilion keeps us connected to that history while it also serves as an icon of Queens that is recognized around the world. Its preservation will aid our efforts to rebrand the Queens as a top-level tourist destination that we call ‘The World’s Borough.’”

De Blasio set a total $628,000 aside, while Mark-Viverito and the Council helped secure $979,000, Katz said.

The overall funding also included $1 million Katz had set aside from her capital budget dollars, bringing a total $5.806 million allocated for restoration efforts. Those dollars, Katz said, will be

used to upgrade the structure’s electrical system, rebuild the staircases inside its three towers and repair the concrete platforms supporting the observation decks at the top of each tower.

Advocates have been calling for a Pavilion makeover for months with the 50th anniversary celebrations of the 1964 World’s Fair fresh in the borough’s collective mind. The National Trust for Historic Preservation donated the site as one of its national treasures back in April, making it one of only 44 sites to receive such designation.

Peg Breen, president of the New York Landmarks Conservancy, has been workingOne in tandem with Katz and the City or two persons occupancy, Council to advocate for preservation and reservations, only. restoration in the Pavilion’s footprint.

“Restoring the Pavilion is the right thing to do at just the right time,” she said. “We agree with the borough president that the restored Pavilion will be a wonderful representation of the vitality of the borough and provide a space for all kinds of events that will draw not just people from Queens, but people from around the city and visitors from around the world.”

Years of neglect left some borough leaders worried about the Pavilion’s fate, which led to a special spotlight being shined on the site with the anniversary celebration approaching. It was estimated that $14 million would be the magic number to tear down the Pavilion, but that option was widely opposed.

The Parks Department also released several engineering studies on the Pavilion, including one in 2012, which found it would cost close to $40 million to preserve the Pavilion’s architecture and another $50 million to preserve its facility and preserve public access.

And

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The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

CB14 Committee Rejects Expansion Of Surfside

PAGE 11

St. John’s Ramping Up EMR

By Bianca Fortis

Community Board 14’s Land Use Committee voted against a proposal to add three more buildings to the Surfside apartment complex located along Shore Front Parkway.

Alma Realty, the company that owns the complex, presented its proposal to the committee Monday night. The company is proposing to add three new apartment buildings, each of which would be four stories high. Together the buildings would comprise about 200 rental units, which would be rented

at the market rate. The ground floor of the buildings would be commercial space.

The commercial strip “would create a more attractive and marketable commercial environment,” according to the presentation. The apartments would abut Rockaway Beach Boulevard, between Beach 105th and Beach 108th Streets. However, under current zoning laws, no new development is allowed. A zoning change is required for the new buildings to be built.

Dolores Orr, the chair of

Physicians at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital are now entering doctors’ orders and notes to nurses, pharmacy, laboratory, and imaging and other ancillary services into an electronic medical record (EMR) for all inpatients. Staff at St. John’s said, the physician order/entry was a huge advance in implementation of the EMR at St. John’s. Plans are ongoing for the completion of the electronic medical records throughout the Hospital.

CB14, said the original Surfside apartment buildings were constructed in a way that allowed for large open space and prevented shadows being cast from one building to the next. The new buildings could potentially compromise that, she said.

Additionally, about 150 parking spaces would be lost. The committee voted against the proposal because they feared the expansion could create too much congestion, Orr said.

Orr said the committee will recommend to the full Community Board not to support the request for rezoning. She said the presentation Monday night was an informal one for the developer to gauge how the community would react to the idea of the new buildings. It is not part of the official Uniform Land Use Review Procedure process.

Alma Realty did not respond to a request for comment before deadline.

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PAGE 12

Thursday, july 17, 2014

The Rockaway Times

Back In The Day

AWAY PA CK

RK

RO

Supermoon!

Ahoy Rockaway!

PIZZERIA

Owned and Operated by a Graybeard

Eat In Take Out Delivery Bernie Matzen's 19" fluke on Sat. caught drifting in "Jones Inlet."

By Matt Whalen

Photo by C. Whalen

About me: I was born in the blizzard of 1961 on B-19th St (St. Joseph's Hospital) where my parents worked. My Father was an M.D. serving the Rockaway community for many years and my mother was an R.N. there. We lived in Valley Stream but, often my parents got called in to the hospital so off to Rockaway we went. I no longer live in Rockaway but, it's actually a goal of mine to get back there (E.T. phone home) but, I guess that the Rockaway sand never really leaves your shoes once it get's in there!

And now onto the report: Jamaica Rockaway Park, NY 11694 Bay: We checked in with "Tom" at "Tom's Wave Service Station/Bait & Tackle" on Beach Channel Drive and he told us

We Accept Credit Cards

Welcome to the Rockaway Times fishing report. I should have said Ahoy! last week in the first edition of the RT. Must’ve had fishing on the brain. Anyway, my name is Matt Whalen and it's my pleasure to bring you the fishing information from other anglers and fishing stations on what’s biting every week in and around Rockaway. This report will also include our good friends in Howard Beach, Broad Channel, and the surrounding estuaries. We try and cover everything from simple dockside bait 208 116th Street • fishing on Beach the bay, to sport fishing in the surf. If it's eating bait or hitting a lure in Rockaway, we want you to know about it.

Free Delivery!

718 - 474 - 0020 718 - 474 - 1266

Long before the Surfing Beach was made official these locals ruled the waves. Who do we got here? Patrick Hurley, John Schaeffer, John Kearns, John McNamara, Eddie Gallagher and Peter Zogas. And that’s Steve Stathis reading his last newspaper until The Rockaway Times published last week.

that this year Jamaica Bay is giving up landed a NICE fluke 20" and 3.0+ lbs. larger fluke than usual. Tom mentioned while on anchor at "Haunts creek" with that his customers have reported seeing a buck tail lure. and catching larger fluke up to the 11 Dawn at "Big Ron's Bait and tackle" and 12 pound range. "This year the fluke in Howard beach informs us that spoare larger", Tom said. Tom also tells us radic porgy action is starting to show that the bite is still "ON", and that he up in Jamaica bay. Porgies are showing has plenty of bait (bunker, spearing, and up off of Floyd Bennett field. The porsquid) on hand, so get down there ! gy action is far from "full on" but, they East end bays: Pauly T. returned our are at least starting to show up. Dawn call to report that he is in Merrick bay also tells us of some exciting news off of fishing, There IS fluke action but all he's Floyd Bennett Field with weak fish acgotten is about 6 short fluke (all are too tion heating up. short, fluke must be at least 18" to keep Bernie Matzen nailed a nice fluke off and a limit of five fish per person). Paul of "Lido Golf Course" at 22" last week. returned all fish totreat the bay.

Paul also told Bernie alsoappeared drifted "Jones Inlet" Stargazers got a on Saturday as a Supermoon in the sky.

Theand full us that theregot is as some fluke action drifthimself aorbit. nice dinner with a 19" July moon close as it gets to Earthcaught in its elliptical Photo by Domingo Feliciano ing the "Squaw Island" cut. Paul also fluke on Saturday.

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The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

Between The Bridges in Broad Channel

By Peter J. Mahon

“The Pig Abides” Our local Broad Channel V.F.W. at 705 Shad Creek Road is hosting a Pig Roast and BBQ this Saturday, July 19th, from 2 pm to 6pm. Now before you start thinking to yourself “Heck, it’s just another barbeque.” consider the following. A Pig Roast or “Hog Cooking” as it is often referred to, is an ancient tribal ritual practiced around the world.

Although around these parts, the words alone invoke casual summertime pleasure (the taste of ice cold draft beer, the smell of wafting smoke infused with the aroma of cooking pork, the comfortable feel of a soon to be greasy T-shirt, the ubiquitous summertime sound of flip flops, the constant (and annoying) questions of “is it ready yet?”, etc.) they tend to overshadow the

fact that, in reality, a pig roast is an elaborate community affair requiring ingenuity and copious amounts of elbow grease.

Think about it…you have to dig the pit days before the roast - no easy feat in itself, fire it up in the wee hours on the morning of the roast to get the stones and charcoal hot without burning the block down, dress and wrap the pig and put it on the hot coals without causing burns to yourself or others, bury the pig with insulating dirt and then let it cook low and slow for…..well the pig will be ready when the pig is ready. Remember, the pig is in control, not you…the pig abides!

Of course, then there is the fun part. You dig up the pig and eat it! If you have never enjoyed

PAGE 13

roast pig before, stop by the V.F.W. this Saturday and you are in for a special treat.

This is not just another BBQ, it’s a PIG ROAST, a veritable sensory overload of pork gone hog wild! Of course, in addition to the roast pig there will be the usual BBQ staples of cold beverages, hot dogs and hamburgers with all the fixings for those of you who may be too timid to sample a recently unburied cooked dead pig. And for all you Vegetarians and Vegans out there we will also have corn, salad and watermelon, but, c’mon… why bother? $20 for adults, $10 for children and tykes 4 and under can sneak in free! All are welcome.

Don’t miss it! And remember, what happens at the pig roast, stays at the pig roast! As always, all proceeds will go to benefit our veterans.

By the time this edition of the Rockaway Times hits the stands on Thursday you will have noticed that designated parking stripes have been painted on both side of the Cross Bay Boulevard median between 10th and 15th Roads.

These spaces are intended for parking by residents of West 11th, 12th and 13th Roads who will have their side street parking displaced when construction starts shortly with the Tidal Flooding Mitigation Project which will see new end of street bulkheads and raised streets on each of the those roads.

Dan Mundy, President of the Broad

Channel Civic Association has requested that “…anyone who does not live on the streets which will be affected by this project to refrain from parking in these designated spaces.” In other words, play nicely people, please?

Congratulations are in order for Rob and Trish McCarthy and family on finally getting their house raised. The house raising is yet another small step in their lengthy and arduous journey of attempting to move back home to West 12th Road since Sandy evicted them!

[Due diligence requires that I advise you that the McCarthy’s next door neighbor, Scott Valentine, laughingly told me I wouldn’t be so quick to celebrate their pending homecoming if I lived next door to them!]

On a sadder note, directly across the street from the McCarthy’s recently raised house sits an empty lot that used to be home to Sophia and Lenny DeVirgilio and their daughter Louise. Their battle with Build It Back and New York City is not unlike a Broad Channel version of Samuel Beckett’s absurdist play, Waiting for Godot. Like the characters in the play, Sophia and Lenny wait endlessly and in vain for assistance that never appears.

Broad Channel – Why would anyone want to live anywhere else?

See y’all next week.

Comments: rtbetweenthebridges@gmail.com

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The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

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Thursday, july 17, 2014

PAGE 15

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PAGE 16

Thursday, july 17, 2014

The High Tide A Little of This And That ****Calling all one-time columnists (or some time columnists) The Pot Luck column – is a space reserved for different topics each week. It can be a long opinion piece or a take on any subject such as pets, business, sports, hobbies, and so on. This week we’ve got a new take on the ferry and next week, already in the queue, is a column about gardening. You can pitch your idea or send a column to editor@rockawaytimes.com. Try to keep it to 500 words. ****Our Back In The Day feature is not just for old timers.

Say, you’re 30ish and you have that funny picture from 1995 or whenever – send it in! Sideburns, classic cars and family photos that capture yesteryear, stuff like that.

After Dan Edwards appeared last week, a comment came in from rockawaytimes.com: Knew him when he played second base, knew him when he played the ponies. But never knew he played the ukulele.

Please send your Back In The Day photos to: editor@rockawaytimes.

com ****A Rockaway truism: In the winter there are too many meetings. In the summer there is too much to do! The one thing you don’t want is an invitation to New Jersey or Long Island. ****A small plane dragging a banner with a Star of David promoting something called ProSwatsticka.org flew over Coney Island, Rockaway, Long Beach, and Jones Beach last Sunday. Many people were outraged, of course. The group behind the banner claims it’s trying to “rehabilitate” the swatstika symbol which they say is a symbol of peace and the word means “to be well.” Hiring a plane, starting a website, applying for non-profit status as the group is purportedly doing, sounds a bit much for word “rehabilitation.” Their actions don’t suggest peace at all. ****Sell out advisory. You must’ve heard by now how great the shows are that are produced by the Rockaway Theater Company at Fort Tilden. “Gypsy” launches

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The Rockaway Times

July 18 with various dates through August 3. See the ad in this week’s Rockaway Times or visit RockawayTheaterCompany.org for more info. ****Here’s something new: The First Annual Beach Car Show will be held Saturday, July 19 in the St. Camillus parking lot on Beach 99th Street from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. There is an entry fee but all proceeds go to the NYPD Detective Endowment Association Widow and Children Fund. ****There’s rumor of another restaurant coming to restaurant row on Rockaway Beach Boulevard.

A sit-down Chinese restaurant is looking to move into a spot off Beach 92nd. ****Klaus Bieseanbach, Chief Curator at Large of MoMA, Director of MoMA PS1 and the driving force behind the art exhibition at Fort Tilden (Rockaway!) is effusive in his praise of the Rockaway Artists Alliance. He says their volunteer efforts have been “amazing” and the show “would have not been possible without the incredible enthusiasm and professionalism of the RAA.” High praise indeed for the invaluable Rockaway artist group that deserves regular standing ovations! ****Phil McManus, transit advocate like few others, spearheaded a campaign to raise some funds to take out an ad in a Naples, Italy newspaper about the Rockaway ferry. Why Naples? That’s where Mayor de Blasio will be vacationing! Maybe the mayor has to go to Italy to hear Rockaway pleas for the ferry service. ****Singer-songwriter, Lana

Del Rey, and actor James Franco were spotted at Fort Tilden last weekend. Franco is pretty much of a regular there and in other parts of Rockaway. Alana Del Rey has had a number of top-selling records.

Various reports say she describes herself as “a self-styled gangsta Nancy Sinatra.” ****Well, if you need any more evidence that surfing is serious business in Rockaway, here you go: a bunch of serious surfers are looking to form a Surfing Association or Surf Council that will allow them to collectively push for beach rights and promote the sport. ****Party poopers. DEP officers with sound meters appeared at the concessions last Friday ready to stop the music. It was well after the lifeguards went home so it couldn’t be anything about not hearing whistles. A resident of the building across the street was enjoying the music and said the bands’ music can barely be heard there. ****It’s about time someone figured this out. The W Hotel in the City is offering a “surf & stay experience.” Visitors who want to truly enjoy all of New York – and that includes Rockaway – can now book a day at the beach and in the surf. This is really a turnabout. Rockaway is usually trying to figure out how to get tourists here. In this case, a City-based business realizes people want to come here. ****The great picture in this week’s paper with a wounded warrior in a kayak, arms raised, comes by way of Kathryn Sebade. She’s got some amazing photos at www. barefootmoments.com

Courthouse

Richie Knott, Past Grand Knight of the nearby Knights of Columbus and community activist, was raised on 91st street and remembers when the courthouse was operated as a traffic court. He said that after many years of neglect and many broken promises the time is now for something to be done. “The Knights has hosted numerous community meetings at the Council over the years. Many politicians have attended these meetings and drive by the courthouse yet seem to turn a blind eye towards it.”

(Continued from Page 3) away with an eyesore that’s been sitting there for over 40 years,” he said. “And it will meet a very important medical need and create a lot of jobs – it’s a win-win, all the way around.”

The planned 28,000 square foot medical center will include offices for orthopedics, ophthalmology, urology, obstetrics and gynecology and pain management, as well as an outpatient surgical center, according to a previous announcement by the EDC. The EDC has said the renovation will preserve the building’s marble and limestone exterior.

The project is projected to cost more than $10 million. The facility will be occupied by Rockaway ASC Development LLC, a group of ten physicians.

Kaufman said the project is still on track to be completed before the end of 2015.

Some in the area remain skeptical. One neighbor said, “Something has to get done. We’ve heard a lot of promises but what happens? Nothing happens.”

Ulrich: Get Your Rain Barrels

City Councilman Eric Ulrich, along with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, will distribute free 60-gallon rain barrels to about 100 homeowners in Belle Harbor .

The event will take place from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Belle Harbor Yacht Club, at the corner of Beach 126th Street and Beach Channel Drive. Because space is limited, homeowners who would like a rain barrel should contact Ulrich’s office at 718-318-6411.

The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

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Thursday, july 17, 2014

Rockaway

By Nelly Berl

The Ferry Deserves World Wide Attention Yesterday, I received my Daily Transporter email from Travel & Leisure and one of the featured articles was the “World’s Most Beautiful Ferry Rides� so I took a look. The Staten Island Ferry was number 8. The article boasts about the unobstructed views of New York’s iconic sites including Wall Street, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Anybody who has experienced this ride can vouch for the beauty of these sites as the ferry sails by but once they’re in the boat’s wake the only views left to take in are of New Jersey’s industrial hubs.

What tourists and most native New Yorkers alike don’t know is that the Rockaway and BAT ferry arguably provides the most striking and comprehensive water view of New York’s harbor sites and coastal towns. This unsung ferry ride was implemented by Seastreak after Hurricane Sandy to supplement or replace public transportation from the Rockaways to the city after the storm. Its hour long ride navigates the harbor and passes not only the

well-known water landmarks but also some of the neighborhoods on the water’s edge of four of the five New York boroughs, providing a different way to see and experience New York.

After departing from Pier 11 in Manhattan the ferry rounds Governor’s Island and the skyscrapers that normally loom above pedestrians on land begin to form the skyline view for which New York is so famous. Before long the ferry is hugging the Statue of Liberty prior to making its first stop in the Bay Ridge/Sunset Park area of Brooklyn. For riders looking for a shorter sail or commute, these neighborhoods have plenty of nightlife and restaurants to enjoy, as well as subway access to other parts of Brooklyn.

The riders that stay on through the ferry’s next and last stop, Rockaway Beach, will pass under the Verrazano Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the country and the 7th longest in the world, into the mouth of the harbor before turning into Jamaica Bay. Here riders get

an amazing but rarely seen view of Coney Island amusement park and beach. The panoramic view of this Brooklyn landmark catches the energy of the entire strip. If you are lucky enough to ride the ferry in the fall you’ll see a sunset that revivals the renowned sunset cruises of the Florida Keys.

Rockaway is the final destination of the ride. The perks and beauty of beachside living are well known to us locals but a quick rundown for the day trippers: it’s a neighborhood with unmatched beaches in New York City and is quickly developing into a town with great beach amenities like the boardwalk concessions and summertime bars but with a close-knit community vibe.

The reason that few people are aware of the beautiful Rockaway and BAT ferry ride and it’s destinations is because the ferry was implemented in the chaotic recovery period post Sandy as an aid to Rockaway residents, and it only survived as long as it has thanks to the increasing popularity of the Rockaway beaches in the summer and the dedicated ridership of Rockaway residents commuting to the city. But it has always been viewed by city officials as a superfluous, tentative perk despite local protests otherwise. The true potential of the ferry – as an opportunity to promote outer-borough tourism and as a

The Rockaway Times necessity for a humane commute for the Rockaway residents into the city – has never been explored or appreciated.

The Staten Island ferry is an institution – a welcoming and scenic trip for tourists venturing into the city and a critical lifeline for Staten Island residents who would otherwise have to endure grueling rush hour hauls into the city via Brooklyn by car, bus or train. A trip that is analogous to the current commute options through MTA transportation from Rockaway into the city; circuitous routes on the A train or by bus into the Flatbush junction. So in light of the recent decision to cancel the Rockaway and BAT ferry in October, it is hard not to compare the two ferry lines and wonder why the Staten Island ferry is deemed worthy of city funding and support and why the Rockaway and BAT ferry doesn’t qualify.

For anybody who has yet to experience the Rockaway and BAT ferry ride, you only have a few more months to do so. Experience it for yourself and if you agree it’s worth saving call a city representative and plead its case. The dual value of the ferry as a support to resident commuters with a tourism perk should speak for itself but for some inexplicable reason it needs people to champion its survival. Don’t let this benefit to the city slip away.

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The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

PAGE 19

Back In The Day

The Beef Chip with Team Cyclops

A Shot Of Movie Reviews On The Side We know you have been waiting. The anticipation is palpable, the emotion is ground shaking, and the people are about to get exactly what they want. The ill-fated, dreaded and despised Countdown List.

You know you are from Blah Blah Blah, 37 things to do while in Blah Blah Blah or 17 sayings people say while Blah Blah Blahing.

This week, we at Beefchip & Team Cyclops have compiled a list of motion pictures that are often overlooked, and hardly given the credit they are due. We do not offer a rank of these movies on top 3 or top 5 as with all other lists because, well it’s a waste of time and like our hipster friends, WE WANT TO BE DIFFERENT! The movies of yesteryear offered pop culture references many of the people of our generation could relate to on a personal basis, and often sent a deeper message on the rights and wrongs, and the do’s and do not’s of this game we call life.

The Shawshank Redemption for example is a movie that by all

rights should have won multiple Academy Awards. Paltry box office sales that barely recouped the films original budget and a face-to-face showdown with blockbuster film Forrest Gump were contributing factors that left Shawshank collecting dust for the next several years.

Though Morgan Freeman received an Academy nomination for Best Male Actor it was not until the film made it to VHS and 24-hour TNT reruns that it received the attention it was due. Not to mention the film has been #1 on IMDB’s top 250 since 2008. Be that as it may, as I am sure many can relate, Shawshank is an instantaneous click on the ‘OK’ button while channel surfing. All outside activity ceases and nothing else exists while listening to Andy tell Red, “Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

Though the life of an amateur turned professional poker player is a roller coaster ride that statistically may often lead to the depths of bankruptcy, ‘Rounders’ provided

Some bittersweet memories in this great shot of Ruggers at a 7s tourney. Not necessarily in order are: Tim Tubridy; Kevin Griffith; Rick Sternberg Pete Brady; Joe Moore; Tommy Greaney (RIP); Timmy Stackpole (RIP) Pat Savage; Kevin Callaghan.

a platform on which to make that dream a reality. Matt Damon’s noteworthy performance of a seemingly relatable post grad student turned poker pro, gave a young accountant named Chris Moneymaker the push to accomplish what “only happens in the movies.”

In what has been called “The Moneymaker Effect”, his win at the World Series of Poker put the game

of Texas Hold’em on the map and the movie ‘Rounders’ started it all.

Since his win, no “professional” has ever won the WSOP. Much to the chagrin of pros like Phil Helmuth, who berate amateurs for their style of play, the game itself would not attain the popularity without an ordinary person such as Moneymaker accomplishing this feat. It (Continued on page 20)

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The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

Between The Groins

By John Cori

Finding Cracks In The Boardwalk Story Since the obliteration of our boardwalk, I’ve been paying extremely close attention to the rebuilding of The Rockaway Beach Boardwalk.

Actually, even prior to tropical storm Irene our group, Friends of Rockaway Beach, was actively petitioning NYC Parks to rebuild the Rockaway Beach Boardwalk. And then in August, two months before our visit from Sandy, we took CB 14’s District Manager Jonathan Gaska for a tour of the of the infrastructure of the boardwalk.

What we showed the District Manager was the utter decay and devastating effects from the lack of proper upkeep, salt water on the metal parts and time, itself, had on our boardwalk. Rusted bolts so deteriorated they broke

off in your hand. Row after row of rotted beams and of course, the Holy Grail of “WTF’s” the boardwalk deck was not attached to the concrete pile caps.

Perhaps, the engineers in the 1930’s thought gravity was a sufficient way of anchoring the boardwalk in place on the pile caps or contractors were just cutting corners in the name of profit!

We’ll never know!

Since the destruction of The Rockaway Beach boardwalk in 2012, as so many of us have, I have attended each and every planning meeting on the rebuilding of our boardwalk. I have paid keen attention to detail, specifically on the subject of the ability of the boardwalk to withstand the next big storm.

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We were told by engineers from NYC’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) at January 2014 meeting of CB 14 that the 90 year old concrete piles and pile caps were too rotted and deteriorated to be reused as the foundation of our new boardwalk. The EDC Engineers’ plan was to replace the concrete piles with steel. We were given a very clear detailed slide show of size and dimensions of the new Boardwalk infrastructure.

One part of this new design, which I paid extreme close attention to, was the new steel piles.

According EDC’s design presentation in the structural portion on page 29, it clearly states 24 inch in diameter steel piles would be used to replace the 14 inch by 14 inch concrete piles. One of the first questions asked was, won’t the steel piles rust? We were assured by EDC that all steel piles would have rust proof epoxy coating to prevent rusting.

At the conclusion of the EDC’s boardwalk design presentation, NYC Parks requested The Board’s full approval of EDC’s new plan. It was approved unanimously!

Fast forward to the week of July 6, 2014 Subcontractors of Skanska, the boardwalk contractor, began a series of steel pile testing at Beach 107th Street at Shore Front Pkwy.

The would be pounding the steel piles 40 feet deep into the sand.

Doing my due diligence, I decided check in on the progress. I

was excited to see this process first hand. Upon my arrival to the test site, the first thing that caught my eye was there was no epoxy coating on the steel pipe. I thought to myself isn’t this a test? Isn’t the point of the test to see how well the design will hold up to a pile drive bashing a 24 inch pipe nearly 40 feet into the ground, and to see how well the epoxy coating will withstand the constant impacts of a giant hammer? Now I’ve been known to have a pretty keen eye and my keen eye was telling me that something was not right. The 24 inch pipe looked kind of small, I knew right away that it was not a 24 inch wide pipe that CB14 had approved.

To confirm, I got a tape measure and, sure enough, the pipe was not 24 inches it measured 20 inches in diameter.

After phone calls to Skanska’s office it has been determined that they will now use a 20 inch pile instead of a 24 inch pile.

I have to question how these major changes in design are not presented to the community for community input. And why are the contractors testing without the epoxy pipe coating? I also would like to know where the cost saving of the smaller pipe will go, back into the project or into EDC’s pocket?

What’s next? Shorten the length of the boardwalk?

Eternal vigilance!!!

The Beef Chip

self Importance.

The greater lesson is to take chances in life. “You can’t lose what you don’t put in the middle, but you can’t win much either.”

Finally, “No Looking Back” filmed almost entirely in Rockaway might be two hours of my life I can never get back, but the hostility I hold these nearly 16 years after has subsided when I see old haunts such as Connolly’s and The Blackwater on the big screen.

That “big screen” just happens to be my flat screen TV as I don’t think the movie ever made it to the “big screen.” As any local will remember, the horrific traffic conditions and quality of life issues the filming caused only perpetuated the disdain of the horrible storyline and awful acting.

A little off topic, but at The Rockaway Times we are granted a blank canvas every week. The lesson herein is, do not judge a book by its cover. If we could have fast forwarded through the movie, how depressing it made our small town look, you would have discovered the greatest town in North America. Where everyone knows your name and is always willing to lend a hand. That was up until a few years ago! Nowadays, May through September I have a hard enough time remembering my own name.

(Continued from Page 19) could also be the notion of a “pro” coming to terms that he is just as ordinary as the guys that started playing poker after ‘Rounders’ hit the big screen. I think Helmuth and the other “pros” suffer from the same disease as an “Elite Yelper”:

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The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

JOIN OUR TEAM!

Confidence is not something Civics Corner we are born with ...

By Amanda Mancusi Agoglia

It is something that we learn.

Neponsit: Character Building Community A Historic Starts Early!

Join our Pre-K Program Now! The Neponsit OwnersClasses and concerns in Neponsit and TeensProperty and Adults Association (NPOA) was have received Conducted byfounded International Karateapproximately Champion 230 in 1919 to support community responses. The primary concern Tai-chi, Wing Chunof for most of our residents is storm preservation and the promotion Saturday at 9 am As protection, Hurricane Sandy devgeneral welfare of its residents. an association, we take an active astated Neponsit as well as most role in our community by identi- of The Rockaway’s, but most of fying and responding to SUMMER the com- ourSPECIAL neighbors have chosen to stay 2 Month munity’s needs and encourage the Registration and rebuild. participation of our membership in Free I recently spoke with one of Includes Uniform an effort to improve Neponsit for our oceanfront neighbors and long to Full Program Only) everyone who lives here.(Special Applies standing board member, Marvin We welcome input from our Eisenstadt, and I asked him why Helpdid Your members, which helps us to adhe Child and hisSucceed wife Roz choose to Best Cardio Goal Setting dress key issues and concerns stay afterSkills such a terrible storm? in Rockaway Confidence Self-Esteem affecting everyone and we make Marvin&said, “We stayed during Tues./Fri. am influSelf-Discipline Physical Fitness every effort to be a 8positive the storm, the damage was unbeSunday 9 am ence on the quality of life for our lievable, but theSelf community Respect for Adults Defensecame residents. There are approximately together to help, it’s a unique com580 homes here. We represent all munity, so loving and caring, we of our neighbors, present members have so many friends here.” and members-to-be, year round He went on to say “Roz and I neighbors and summer residents. have ties to the neighborhood, Roz 112-20 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Park The NPOA recently sent out a was a past PTA President and our survey to all of our homeowners children live in the area, we want to asking for feedback about issues live here forever.” Marvin moved

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to the area in 1965 with his first wife Barbara. He said that “Rockaway had a provincial small town feel, there was the beach and the bay for fishing, taxes were reasonable, the public schools were good and it was a perfect place to raise a family.” Barbara was very artistic and brought many art and cultural events to Rockaway. In 2007 she passed away, leaving many friends and admirers.

The Barbara Eisenstadt foundation was started in her honor and Beach 144 street was named for her, it is “Barbara’s Way.” At 81, Marvin is still working at his company and the repairs to his home are almost complete. He has been a long time supporter of our Association as well as the Waterfront Alliance and other Rockaway based groups.

He said, “God has been good to me and I want to give back.” We thank him for his dedication and support.

Neponsit is a Native American name meaning “ the place between waters” which is very befitting because it is located between the Atlantic Ocean and Jamaica Bay, from Beach 142nd street to Beach

PAGE 21 149th street.

In January of 1910, the Neponsit Realty Company purchased the land presently called Neponsit for development. The entrance to the area at the times was a large ornamental gateway.

Neponsit happened to be next door neighbors to the US Naval Air Station Rockaway which was an active airfield from 1917 to 1930. It had some 80 buildings and an airstrip. As Riis Park and the Marine Park Bridge were constructed evidence of the old airfield disappeared.

That’s just a little history and a sample of who we are. We encourage all of the residents of Neponsit to join the association and help support our community. Our next project is repairing the sprinkler systems on the malls which were severely damaged during and after Hurricane Sandy.

As President of the NPOA I believe that we th preserve and improve Neponsit for ourselves and future generations. Have a safe summer and I will see you at the beach! If you’d like, contact me at Neponsit1919@aol.com

Let US know what YOU think.

Love Us? Like Us? Hate Us? We want to Know!

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2424 | Rockaway Times • July 3, 2014 | Rockaway Times • July 3, 2014

Rockaway Ravens Roll The Rockaway Ravens of the Tiny Mite division (5-6 year olds) delivered a crushing blow to the Brooklyn Titans and are on their way to the playoffs looking for another championship. The final score was 21-12. Players are developing under the guidance of Coaches Calvin, Ed, and Leroy.

CONDO CONDO FOR FOR SALE SALE

july 17, 2014 The Rockaway Times Ocean ––Two $475K OceanGrand Grand Twobedrooms, bedrooms,two twobaths bathsw/terrace w/terrace……………...............…. ……………...............…. $475K

The Fishing APARTMENTS FOR APARTMENTS FORRENT RENT Report Beach 66 St – Three Beach 66 St – Threebedroom bedroom………......................................................... ……….........................................................$1,500 $1,500 CO-OP CO-OPFOR FORSALE SALE Beach Beach118 118StSt––Oceanfront Oceanfront––Hampton HamptonHouse House––One Onebedroom bedroomw/terrace w/terrace....$235K ....$235K

By Matt Whalen Beach Beach97 97StStand andSFP SFP––Two Twobedrooms, bedrooms,terrace terraceoverlooking overlookingbeach.............. beach..............$1,850 $1,850 Beach Beach118 118StSt––Duplex Duplextwo twobedroom bedroom…….................................................. ……..................................................$1,500 $1,500 Beach Beach121 121StSt––Studio Studio……….......................................................................$900 ……….......................................................................$900 Beach Beach121 121StSt––Three Threebdrom bdromduples, duples,22terraces terraces…….........................$1,800 …….........................$1,800no nofee fee Beach Beach121 121StSt- -One Onebdrm bdrm……………….............................................$1,300 ……………….............................................$1,300no nofee fee Beach Beach123 123StSt––Walk-in Walk-inone onebedroom bedroom………..............................................$1,250 ………..............................................$1,250 Beach Beach123 123StSt––Oceanviews Oceanviews––Fabulous Fabulousone onebedroom bedroomw/office w/office…..............$1,500 …..............$1,500 Beach 124 St – One bdrm …………...............................................................

Beach 124 St – One bdrm …………...............................................................$950 $950 Beach Beach124 124StSt––All Allnew newone onebedroom, bedroom,CAC, CAC,walk-in, walk-in,pkg pkg………………......….$1,400 ………………......….$1,400 Ahoy Rockaway ! water temps warming up, the action has COMMERCIAL SPACE – FOR SALE COMMERCIAL SPACE – FOR SALE I hope that everyone had a good been about the same with fluke being Rockaway Beach Two buildings back totoback.

Store plus apartment plus Rockawayfishing, Beach––the Two buildings back back.

Store plus apartment plusfour four with weekend weather was okay taken at the Cross bay bridge area additional units.

Each unit has its own boiler and hot water heater.

Great additional units.

Each unit has its own boiler and hot water heater.

Great to sketchy with Saturday being the best many shorts being reported (normal investment…...........................................................................................$800's investment…...........................................................................................$800's of the two days, Sunday was spotty rain for this time of year). Brian said that Beach xx100.

Perfect for Beach100 100StSt–on –110 110 100.you Perfect forresidential residential development. (depending where were) and hedevelopment. did hear of some blue fish showing All offers considered.

All offers considered. mostly overcast. We had a full moon on up for some quick action at the bridge Beach 800 ft……................................................................ $300K Beach116 116St Starea area––the 800 ft……................................................................ $300K Saturday making tides run higher but, that they disappear as quickly as and lower than usual all weekend. We they show up.

SUMMER RENTALS SUMMER RENTALS went from “FLOOD” to “MUD” !

Fluke a la Rockaway: Salt, pepper BUNGALOW 109 …………....….............................. $5,000 BUNGALOW –Beach Beach 109StStLong …………....….............................. $5,000 forseason season Water –temp 73*F Beach and LIGHTLY flour for each filet. Add Beach 97 St – Three bedrooms, two baths, parking ...….............…$20,000 season Beach 97 St – Three bedrooms, two baths, parking ...….............…$20,000 season (inside) butter to frying pan, on med. heat cook Beach StSt––Two bedrooms, Beach 97 Two bedrooms,terrace……………........................…$14,000 terrace……………........................…$14,000 season Off97 shore Rockaway: fish until white and flakey.season Add a shot of Bernie Matzen of Oceanside, and white wine to deglaze the pan, serve over WALSH CORP. WALSH MANAGEMENT CORP. Erick Albrecht went out to “Sixty Feet” MANAGEMENT your choice of fresh summer vegetable for Prayer for ourtroops. troops. of water S.W. of Jones Beach (wherePrayer the with aour Lemon wedge. A glass of your hold ininyour hands.

Protect them asasit.

Lord, holdour ourtroops troops yourwhite hands.

Protect them ships line up) to try and Lord, nail some large favorite wine to go with they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the protect us. Bless them and their families for the fluke, all they got werethey shorts (fluke selfless acts they under 18”) so they returned them to the selfless acts theyperform performfor forususininour ourtime timeofofneed. need.

Amen. water. Erick did catch a feisty sand shark Amen. on some light tackle, then released him to back into the water as well.

Jamaica Bay/beach report: Tom’s Wave service station/bait and tackle on B.C.D. in Rockaway Park reports that the fluke are still biting in Jamaica bay and the action is still on.

Tom spoke to us about some king fish that are now showing up in the surf.

The king fish are striking on clam and blood worms. Tom said that no porgies or spots have shown up yet this week.

There are also some spearing bait fish showing up at and around the dock area Tom said.

Pauly T. of Rockaway fished Merrick bay over the weekend and caught between 50 and 60 fluke. Unfortunately none of them were of legal length (18”), so they were returned to the bay. Paul said “Lot’s of action but, lots of undersized fish, I went through 3 bags of spearing, at one point I thought that I was just catching the same fish over and over again”.

Big Ron’s fishing station in Howard Beach: We spoke with Brian at Big Ron’s and he tells us that due to the

The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

PAGE 23

Gypsy Opening At Tilden The Rockaway Theatre Company is preparing for opening weekend of the great Broadway musical, Gypsy. Written by Arthur Laurents with music by Julie Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Gypsy, loosely based on the life of burlesque stripper, Gypsy Rose Lee, originally opened on Broadway in 1959 with the great Ethel Merman in the role of Gypsy’s overbearing stage mom, Rose.

The RTC believes that this production features a cast which rivals that of the original production. The powerful vocal chops of Luisa Boyaggi in the lead role of Mama Rose will give audience members chills. David Risley, Leigh Dillon, Kim Simek and Abigail and Amanda Summa are dazzling in supporting cast roles.

The awesome sets, lighting and

stage effects are the work of the best production team in community theater today. This includes Frank Caiati’s scenic design, Drew Westbridge’s lighting design, Cliff Hesse’s painstaking attention to detail in set painting and a phenomenal construction team headed by the incomparable Tony Homsey. Add to this a first rate orchestra under the baton of Music Director Richard Louis-Pierre and there is nothing for this company “to hit but the heights”.

The true force behind the success of this production is the skillful direction of Susan Warren Corning “I have dreamed of directing a production of Gypsy ever since playing Louise in my college production at the University of Texas. I feel very lucky to be able to fulfill my dream here with my amazingly talented and profes-

sional friends at The Rockaway Theatre Company” says Corning.

“I hope everyone gets the chance to come out and see it. It is really great family entertainment.”

Even if you have seen Gypsy before, you’ll still want to see

this production. While many companies have done the show, in the past, to use Sondheim’s own words, “That’s peachy for some people, for some hum-drum people to be, but some people aint”... THE RTC!

Happenings Around Town Music & Arts

Rockaway!

Exhibit MoMA PS1 Multi-artist and multi-media art Fort Tilden Thursdays through Sundays until September 1, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

“A Watercolor Feast” Paintings from the Brooklyn Watercolor Society Cuisine by Claudette 143 Beach 116th Tuesdays through Sundays July 1 through September 6 Photography Exhibit: WOW Rockaway: Stories to Remember Victoria Barber’s photos documenting the aftermath of Sandy YANA 112-34 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

Weekdays July 3 through September 1 10 a.m. through 4 p.m.

Community

Good Government Regular Democratic Club Ocean Promenade Rehab 140 Beach 113th St. Thursdays 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

ALANON Meeting First Congregational Church 320 Beach 94th St. Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m.

101st Precinct Community Council Beth Abraham Health Services 1821 Cornaga Ave. Every third Wednesday of month, 6:30 p.m.

Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 21 Call 646-662-232

for more information Knights of Columbus 333 Beach 90th Last Tuesday of the month, 7:30 p.m.

Rockaway Running Series The Firecracker 10 Miler Beach 17th Street Boardwalk July 12, 8:30 a.m. Rockapulco 5K Beach 85th Street Boardwalk July 18, 7:00 p.m.

To register go to Rockapulcorun.com

Things To Do in Broad Channel St. Virgilius Golden Age Meeting American Legion Hall 209 Cross Bay Blvd.

Every Thursday, 12:30 p.m.

Parks Events

Shape Up NYC: Total Body Circuit Yoga on the Beach Beginner Hatha yoga class Bring mat, large towel, or blanket Beach 108th St. Saturdays through September 6, 8:00 a.m.

Free Zumba Get in shape with this popular form of exercise and dance that combines Latin and African dance steps.

Beach 108th Wednesdays through August 27, 7:30 p.m.

Beach 17th Tuesdays through August 19, 7 p.m.

Rockaway Walks Adult fitness walking program Meet at the boardwalk at Beach 19th Saturdays through August 30, 8 a.m.

Gateway Events

H.A.R.P. Visit the volunteers of the His-

toric Aircraft Restoration Program, as they restore aircraft from Floyd Bennett Field’s aviation history.

Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, Hanger B Every Thursday and Saturday through August 30, 2 p.m.

(Continued on page 27)

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PAGE 24

Thursday, july 17, 2014

The Rockaway Times

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Restore Energy & Rejuvenate The sun in summer - intense, irradiant, long in the day – brings to mind its intense energy without which there would be no life here.

Our bodies need energy in order to function, which we obtain primarily through food intake. Even if we eat properly for the most part, however, the demanding parts of our lives often zap our energy and we find ourselves out of fuel with still more to do.

I tend to separate my work day (whether that be the job duties or tending to my vegetables or family obligations) with my evening by doing one to a few restorative yoga poses. Each day, I am astounded as to how these completely supported poses, that is, no muscle or any energy exerted, gives me clarity of mind and less aches in my body.

There are two ways to do them.

One, you can allow yourself time for you. Just a half hour to however long you can, in a private space.

Or, you can do them while with family members, etc. if you have a lot going on around. Let’s say you all watch a movie together, or have that kind of time at home. Easily, you can do the poses and I assure you it’s better than sitting on the sofa. If you can have your own private time for a half hour – think about it – ONE HALF HOUR in 24 – when you can simply focus on your breath - you will also benefit in the “stress” category. Here are two suggestions.

You will need a few “props” so you can let all muscular tension/

holding go. A sofa or chair cushion and a few blankets. Don’t let this hold you back; we all have “stuff” around to use and once you do it a couple of times, you will find exactly what you need around your home.

Sit on a yoga mat or rug, place the cushion right behind your back. Fold the blankets so they are small high squares. Lie back on the cushion arms out to the side, bring the soles of the feet together so you knees are winged out to either side, place the folded blankets under your thighs for support. Relax. Close your eyes.

Focus on the breath – breathing in and breathing out. Stay for as long as you like. You will create space in the breathing cavity of the body and open the heart.

Second, lie on the mat in front of a sofa of chair. Move hips towards the bottom of the sofa; raise legs up and rest knees, calves, ankles, feet onto the sofa or chair so your calves resting on the sofa or chair are at a right angle to the floor. Place a rolled blanket or pillow under your neck. Place arms out to the side.

Relax. Focus on the breath. You will reduce fatigue in the legs and rejuvenate the mind.

Whatever you do, tune in to how your body feels. Learning to tune in will give you confirmation to make decisions about what you can and cannot do in any exercise regimen, sports activity and yoga practice.

Photo of Paulette by Kathy Nicolos.

We Get Email

a ridiculous 25 MPH citywide as de Blasio is about to push through, let’s show some real vision and install smart traffic lights that remain green until a car or pedestrian needs to enter the intersection from the side street.

Let’s hold the DOT accountable for constructing roads that last, reducing travel times and keeping our kids safe. These are not mutually exclusive goals and can be done with more vision and less shaking down of motorists that seems to be the current administrations MO. Rick Horan SmarterStreets.org

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two intersections alone) There’s got to be a better way!

I’m as concerned as much as the next guy about safety, but I also know that if you are going to have a viable city, people need to be able to get from point A to point B in a reasonable amount of time. We have a right to expect, no, demand more from our City and particularly from the Department of Transportation.

We need to use available technology to help us get where we are going faster and safer. Instead of lowering the speed limit to

The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

PAGE 25

Tubular Views

By Alex Karinsky

This Revolution Must Be Televised!

It was Dorothy Lewandowski, Borough Commissioner for the Parks Dept., Queens, who closed out the ceremony on May 23 about the opening of the beach where she stated “We have the Jamaica Bay Restoration Conservancy people (blue shirts), the Parks Department Enforcement and the NY Police Department in effect, this is going to be a great summer!”

Really? That’s not a great summer by my standards.

There is so much going wrong with the way the Parks Department runs this ocean facing beach I simply don’t have the space to include it all. But I will tackle this much…

There must be rampant cronyism for the rogue mismanagement of Rockaway. From the sheer neglect of allowing hordes of people to come down on hot summer days and provide no safety at all for the swimmers with lifeguards.

To the lying they perform to the concession stand owners saying the beach will be open, even to the public where they don’t post that the beach is technically closed. If they can put a bunch of shmucks to whistle incessantly at us all day to get out of the water, theory would be that they could put a lifeguard there.

It gets worse…

If the beach is open, the sheer naiveté to think that every inch of the beach is safe for swimming is ludicrous. When water comes in from wave action, it has to go out somewhere. We all know what they are called and yet the Parks Department Lifeguards allow swimming directly in harm’s way in these rips. I believe this is negligence in its purest form.

On top of this they even use pool lifeguards to perform open ocean tasks. Janet Fash, then the head lifeguard for the area from Beach 96th to Beach 102nd Streets was a whistleblower on this issue back in 2008, only to be demoted. At the time, Janet said of the bureaucratic incompetence, “They are playing with public safety in a summer when the waters of Rockaway are more dangerous than they’ve been for years…”

Chris Brewster, President of United States Lifesaving Association said to me “The New York

City Parks Department is not USLA certified and has resisted efforts to encourage that they meet national standards.”

Long Beach has a flag system notifying swimmers where the safest part of the beach is to swim,

designated by green flags. Long Island beaches employ a similar method with the international color standard of yellow and red flags. Areas closed to swimming allows surfing at all times. While in Long Beach, President Will Hallet of the LB Surfers Association said “We have had a dialog with the City of Long Beach for over three years where we have rotating surfing beaches, allowing access points in all regions of Long Beach for swimmers and surfers alike.”

On top of all the above, the Parks Department just don’t listen to us. Over three years ago in a meeting with Parks organized by Vince Castellano at the Peninsula Hospital, people came out in droves with their pitchforks and voiced their collective concern over litter and how Parks neglects the beach and allows trash to

I took last week.

Do we have a boardwalk? You know we don’t. Why does Long Beach have theirs? Because those ELECTED officials heard the voice of the people and acted on it. It was in their best interest to do what the people wanted, that is why they were elected.

The explosion in popularity of Rockaway Beach has seen beach-goer numbers soar from 2.5 million in 2011 to over 6 million in 2012. All this money that the Parks gets doesn’t stay here and they ignore the community.

So here’s my proposal, we need to unite and wrestle back our beach from the Parks Department which clearly does not provide the proper infrastructure and management that is required by ocean facing communities. We need something to the effect of a “Rockaway Beach Economic Commission” (call it what you want) who manages all

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spew everywhere (this amongst many other issues). Did they do anything about it? Nope! Trash is still everywhere as in this picture

activities of the beach. From the Lifeguards to be USLA certified, to properly assist the concessions and even expand new ones and to the cleanliness of the beach… oh, and we provide ocean access to designated swim areas up to 9 pm because we don’t have to have every millimeter of beach covered all day.

We keep the money here!

While I’m insistent on free ocean access, many residents have even brought up that they would be willing to pay $60 a year to have a beach pass and charge DFD’s $5 or $10 a visit. You crunch the numbers and guess what? The potential of a RBEC just saved our ferry WITHOUT the city’s help.

Oh, and I bet we would already have our boardwalk in place if we had an elected council in a Rockaway Beach Economic Commission…. …Not to mention jetties!

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PAGE 26

Thursday, july 17, 2014

The Rockaway Times

Wounded Warriors Visit Rockaway For Tenth Year The Wounded Warriors were welcomed with a motorcade and parade on Wednesday, July 9. Soldiers spent the next few days learning to surf, sail, and scuba dive. Challenges like rock climbing were part of the festivities as well.

Photo by Bianca Fortis Photo by Doug Macleod

Photo by Spencer Nelson

Photo by Bianca Fortis

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The Rockaway Times

Thursday, july 17, 2014

PAGE 27

With A Little Help Wounded Warrior Finds Reasons To Live

By Bianca Fortis After carefully wading into provide any benefits, Ragazzino the waist-deep pool, Katherine resorted to living out of her car Ragazzino patiently waits as her for nine months. “I had lost my diving instructor helps her gear spark,” she said. “I didn’t believe up. She seems to take to the wa- I had a purpose outside of the ter with ease, and is swimming marine corps.” around the pool with her head That’s when an old friend underwater in no time. showed up.

But the activity is a far cry “I couldn’t find her,” Michelle from where she was just a few Tyler, a nurse who had known years ago.

Ragazzino for years through Ragazzino, a retired staff sgt. military ties, said. “I found out who served in the Marine Corps, that she was homeless. I was is one of the steadily growing absolutely disgusted, just pissed number of veterans who return off. I told myself, ‘This is not gohome with injuries – both physi- ing to happen on my watch.” cal and psychological. Wanting After piecing together various to follow in the footsteps of her clues, Tyler found Raggazino in father – who was also a marine her car and brought her home. and had served in Iwo Jima – “We’ll figure this out together,” Raggazino enlisted in 1997, just Tyler told her. barely out of high school.

The next part of the story She deployed twice, during involved a battle of a different which time she did tours in Iraq sort-- getting her medical benand Afghanistan. efits. After a winding bureacratic In 2004, she was in a vehicle and legal struggle, she finally got accident and suffered a trau- the badly-needed benefits. matic brain injury that left her It’s not a part of her story with a cracked skull and spinal that Ragazzino likes to recount. cord and nerve damage. The She instead wants to focus on long-lasting effects of the acci- the positive, she said – like her dent – including post-traumatic experience with storm recovery stress – were not immediately in Breezy Point. apparent, and Ragazzino wasn’t Ragazzino and Tyler were in hospitalized until 2007. She Washington, D.C. when Hurriwould ultimately spend two cane Sandy hit. The pair decided years trying to recover in a San to travel into New York City Diego hospital. to check in on some friends.

She was discharged from the Ragazzino was startled by the military in 2010; after her sav- total destruction that she witings dried up and the VA failing to nessed; it evoked memories of

Happenings Around

Katherine Ragazzino, a wounded warrior, got in the pool and took scuba lessons as part of the Wounded Warrior weekend in Rockaway. Photo by Kathryn Sebade

Photo by Kathryn Sebade

Campfire Ring

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Awesome Osprey Observe a South Marsh osprey pair, hear stories of their migrations and their recovery in the U.S. Spotting scope provided for up-close views.

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Camp Gateway Ranger Adventure Nature Walk and exploration for children from 6 to 12 years old. Reservations required; call 718-338-3799.

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Say You Saw It In The Rockaway Times

the humanitarian work she did overseas, she said.

She became involved in the recovery efforts and decided she didn’t want to leave. She became a fellow through Mission Continues, an organization through which veterans volunteer for community service projects.

Through that she became an outreach intern for Friends of Firefighters, an organization based in Brooklyn that provides wellness care to active and retired FDNY firefighters and their family members.

She still lives in San Diego, but Ragazzino returns to New York, and to the Rockaway peninsula, every so often for two to three weeks at a time to continue volunteering her time.

It’s a way to “pay it forward,” she said.

“I love my life now and I love what I do,” she said. “I finally found what I hadn’t had since I’d been injured.”

She also travels to participate in Wounded Warrior Project events, including the event held in Rockaway from July 9 to 13.

The annual Rockaway event sets up wounded veterans with trainers to help them take to the water to surf or swim or scale a rock climbing wall – activities that may have seemed impossible a short time ago.

Ragazzino is an example of how these organizations have helped her regain not only her independence, but her passion for life.

Learning to ride a surfboard may seem like a small act, she said. But that lesson translates into everyday life and can help transform a person.

Tyler also described the change she has seen in Ragazzino: “Just imagine someone totally broken, homeless, helpless, suicidal, who has no reason to live,” she said. “And look at what you see now.”

PAGE 28

Thursday, july 17, 2014

The Rockaway Times

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