High Tide

Happy Passover, which began last night, April 1, and Happy Easter, which is this Sunday, April 5! We hope everyone enjoys the holidays.

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Rockaway will be a little less crowded this weekend and next week, as some schools are off for spring break and many locals have headed down south in search of the sun and warmer weather. If you’re not going to be home on Thursday, we hope you’ve subscribed to our email list and are reading The Rockaway Times online. Just send us an email at Mail@RockawayTimes.com and we’ll sign you up. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook, too!

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It was a sad Friday night last week for St. John’s fans as their March Madness run came to an end with a loss to Duke. Rick Pitino and St. John’s gave us a great season, and we’re sad to see it end. Until next year, Red Storm.

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It’s April, folks, and summer is right around the corner. Here’s a reminder to our beloved 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!

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Rockaway made headlines last week when a whale washed up on Beach 96th Street. It was the first dead whale to wash up on our beaches since May 2025.

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There’s a new group around Rockaway that meets Sunday mornings at different locations, picks up trash for 30 to 45 minutes, and then hangs out afterward to meet neighbors. Thank you to the group for helping to keep Rockaway clean. If you’d like to join their next outing, follow them on Facebook or Instagram at Rockaway Trash Club.

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Looking to get outside this weekend? RISE is hosting a free Spring Migration Bird Walk this Saturday morning, where participants can explore the shoreline and learn about the coastal birds returning for the season. A great way to enjoy the outdoors and welcome spring.

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There were two shooting incidents this week. On Monday night, NYPD responded to a call for a vicious animal at Beach 58th Street. The found a pit bull attacking a woman, who may have been the owner, and shot the dog. The dog later died, and the woman was taken to a hospital for injuries to her arm. On Tuesday night, a man was shot in the leg on Beach 102nd and Rockaway Beach Blvd. He was taken to the hospital and refused to provide a statement to police.

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Councilwoman Joann Ariola is teaming up with GrowNYC to bring free fresh produce to residents of District 32. You can pick up fresh produce on April 22 at 1 p.m. at her Rockaway office (114-12 Beach Channel Drive), while supplies last. Boxes are heavy, so if you’re traveling by public transportation, bring a cart.

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Submissions for the 2026 Rockaway Times Photo Contest are rolling in, and the photos are fantastic so far. The deadline is just a few weeks away, so get your submissions in! 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. For more details, see page 32.

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Have a teen looking to stay busy on Saturday nights? The Rockaway YMCA (207 Beach 72nd Street) hosts Saturday Night Lights, a free basketball program, every Saturday. Middle school runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and high school from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Parents can register at the YMCA.