High Tide

Tomorrow, March 20, marks the first day of spring. We are now in that unpredictable time of year when you’re not sure whether to break out your summer wardrobe or keep those winter coats handy, just in case. Hopefully the chilly days won’t stick around for much longer. Happy Spring!

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Calling all advertisers! We repeat, calling all advertisers! Start thinking about your ad for The Rockaway Times Summer & Community Guide, the one can’t-miss publication of the year. The summer magazine comes out the Thursday before Memorial Day, and advertising deadlines will be in early May. Thank you for your continued support and participation!

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After receiving news that St. Camillus Church would close, parishioners rallied together over the past year to try to save their beloved church. On Sunday, March 15, they finally received the good news that the church will remain open. Congratulations to all involved—and credit to the bishop for keeping an open mind and making the decision to keep St. Camillus open.

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It’s hard to believe Easter is just around the corner. Save the date: St. Francis de Sales Parish is hosting Bagels with the Bunny on Palm Sunday, March 29, after the 10 a.m. Mass in the school gymnasium. There will be supervised activities, face painting, and simple crafts for the children, along with an opportunity to take photos with the Easter Bunny.

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A huge congratulations to retired DSNY hero John Zdyrko, who, after waiting nearly three years for a liver, received his donation from a living donor on March 14. We wish him well in his recovery. Kudos to his wife, Debbie, on being so persistent in the search for a donor!

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A bit of business news. Rockaway’s Soul Kitchen, offering up homestyle comfort food on Beach 116th Street, is expected to open on March 29. Also, Rockaway Beach Bakery, which closed in Rockaway Beach in February, is moving on up. Baker Tracy Obolsky will be opening up shop at The Rockaway Hotel on Beach 108th Street on April 3.

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The Drop Shot Bar at Rockaway Beach Pickleball & Golf has been nominated for Best Bloody Mary at the Bloody Mary Festival to be held on Saturday, March 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at BKLoft26, 153 26th Street in Brooklyn. Go support Drop Shot—the only Queens nominee! To purchase tickets, visit www.thebloodymaryfest.com/new-york-city-3-21-26.

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Councilwoman Joann Ariola has announced a Spring Food Distribution on Wednesday, April 1, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Individual meals of chicken, a side vegetable, and dessert will be distributed at her office at 114-12 Beach Channel Drive. You must live in District 32 to register, and you must call 718-318-6411 to do so.

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Our thoughts and prayers continue, as always, for our troops around the world. We especially pray for those serving in the Middle East and for peace in the region.

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Submissions for the 2026 Rockaway Times Photo Contest are rolling in, and the photos have been fantastic so far. Keep them coming! To be eligible, photos must be emailed to Contest@RockawayTimes.com. We will continue to run our regular Local Color pages, but those photos should be sent to Mail@RockawayTimes.com. We look forward to reviewing your submissions. For more details, see page 14.

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If you want to make sure you receive The Rockaway Times, we email the entire paper every Thursday to more than 4,300 subscribers. It’s fast (8:30 a.m. Thursday mornings) and free. Are you receiving it online? If not, drop us a note at Mail@RockawayTimes.com and we’ll add you to our list.