I have a house party every year for the Rockaway Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Each year I say I am not going to have another party because I cannot believe how people do not know how to act in a house as opposed to a bar. I have even had cigarettes stomped out on both my front porch and back deck. During the party, people always see me running around picking up plates and empty cans and bottles and ask me what they can do to help. I always respond with: you can throw away your empties and your trash or I ask them to do a lap around and pick up trash.

I am sure many of us have been to more events at people’s houses the last few months. I know that I have. Instead of meeting for Happy Hour at a local watering hole, we have been meeting at a

As my loyal readers know, I love to do etiquette columns. I annually write my beach etiquette column (which next year may have to be three week’s worth of columns as people are getting out of control!) Now I have realized, I must write a boardwalk etiquette column. I noticed this as early as the spring but now with what I see as a huge increase in visitors, it is a huge issue.

  1. Please realize people are biking and jogging while on the boardwalk, so be aware of your surroundings. Do not just

I am sorry that this column is coming late this season. I was on the beach this weekend and saw so many offenders, so here is the annual column with a 2020 slice. 

Rule 1: When you get to the beach and there is a lot of space, please do not sit directly on top of people already at the beach. I never understand why someone who has never seen me or met me before wants to sit so close to me. Don’t you want your own space as well? 1b: This also goes to setting up a huge crew directly in front of

Father’s Day is this coming Sunday. I was sitting here in all this craziness of the world and was thinking about the fathers who have had such an influence on my life and how lucky I am to have had them as examples of how to live life.

My grandfather, William (Bill) Walsh. What a great “Pop.” He was so generous and would do anything for his family. We were the luckiest kids when we were invited to Snug Harbor for dinner with him and my Nan. During high school while attending St. Ann’s Academy

Part 2

Thank you so much for all of your emails this past week. Everyone seems to be on the same page with people needing beach etiquette. I just want to note these rules are for everyone, not just our visitors. My favorite email was from Kevin Reilly who has a great idea that the “influential editor of the Rockaway Times persuade the Parks Department to include them (my rules) in posters strung along the boardwalk in strategic locations, just as posters advising about swimming safety are

I have written many columns about why I think Rockaway is the best community ever. I feel we need this column more than ever as we see so much turmoil in our city and especially our town.

I am trying to stay positive in the pandemic and focus on the good in our community and hope that it outshines the negative. This past weekend two very important events happened for our local graduates.

One thing was something I hope becomes a tradition each year and it was a 100% Rockaway event. For those

I am not sure if I have ever mentioned in my column, I am a proud board member of WISH of Rockaway. The day my friends asked me to serve on the board, I was so proud. We work so hard to make a small difference in our community. In the beginning of this awful pandemic, my friend Loretta Courtney was on our Telegram group chat with all different ideas about how we can spread some sunshine. Just as I was writing this column, I was reminded how our members have done such kind things the last few

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