High Tide

Wow, tomorrow is May 1, and summer is just around the corner. The flowers are finally blooming, and we’re all gearing up for the season ahead. Just 22 days until Memorial Day weekend!

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Look, Ma, you made it! Next Sunday, May 10, is Mother’s Day. Want to put a photo of your mom in the newspaper? Send your photo to Mail@RockawayTimes.com by Tuesday, May 5 at 10 a.m., and we’ll do our best to include it in next week’s issue.

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Congratulations to us! The Rockaway Times took home four awards at the New York Press Association’s 2025 Better Newspaper Contest. Managing Editor Katie McFadden won an impressive three first-place awards for Feature Story, Headline Writing, and Feature Photo (wow!), and a photo by Krzysztof Koskikiewicz earned first place for Spot News Photo. Congratulations to Katie and Krzysztof! This marks our 11th year winning awards from the New York Press Association.

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Speaking of journalism honors, congratulations to our own Kailey Aiken—who writes the “Day in the Lifeguard” column during her summers on the beach—for being named the University of Tampa’s Outstanding Journalism Student of the Year. Way to go, Kailey!

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Thank you to everyone who submitted photos for this year’s Rockaway Times Photo Contest. We received several hundred entries in total! Our sage and prudent judges have selected the top 30, which you can see on pages 14-16. The quality of submissions this year was outstanding. The top 30 photos will be enlarged and displayed along the boardwalk, with five additional honorable mentions featured at the ferry landing. We’ll also be printing those honorable mentions in an upcoming issue.

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The Rockaway Track Club is hosting its 1-Mile, 5K, and Half Marathon Mother’s Day Run on Saturday, May 9. For more information or to register, visit www.rockawaytc.org

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Congratulations to all the second graders around the peninsula who have received—or are about to receive—their First Communion this week.

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The new administrator for St. Camillus Church has been announced. Welcome Fr. James Kuroly. He will work with parishioners to revitalize the church that recently avoided closure. Say hello at his first Mass this Sunday, May 3.

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Who has the best beach bar in the country? USA Today has nominated Rockaway’s own Bungalow Bar as a contender among 20 across the country, including spots in Florida and Hawaii. A voting process for the best of the best is underway and as we go to press, Bungalow Bar stands at number three!

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Councilwoman Joann Ariola’s office is currently hosting a diaper drive in support of the Glendale Kiwanis Wyckoff Hospital Expectant Moms Baby Shower. Diapers (sizes 1-8) and baby wipes can be dropped off through May 11 at her Rockaway office (114-12 Beach Channel Drive).

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Rockaway will never forget. You can still donate to support repairs to the Tribute Park 9/11 Mosaic ahead of the 25th anniversary this September by visiting www.rockaways9-11tributepark.com

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Have you reserved your space in this year’s Rockaway Times Summer & Community Guide? If not, what are you waiting for? Reach out to Mary at Mary@RockawayTimes.com to secure your spot before it’s too late.

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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. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook!