A Look Back at 2025

By Katie McFadden

Here’s a rundown of some stories featured in each issue of The Rockaway Times in 2025.

 

January 2

Hot Yoga celebrated 15 years.

A traditional Irish music and dance event was starting in Rockaway.

Longtime EMT Richard Berger died.

 

January 9

Harriet Diamantidis and her 6-year-old daughter, Georgia, were delivering floral bouquets to seniors with Alzheimer’s.

Shrek Jr. was getting ready to take the RTC stage.

 

January 16

The A train was shutting down for 17 weeks.

The migrant tent shelter at Floyd Bennett Field officially closed.

 

January 23

The Graybeards were getting ready to honor Joe Harkins and Lisa Renda Blackwell at their annual dinner dance.

Captain George Ng introduced himself as the 101st Precinct’s new commanding officer.

 

January 30

Poseidon’s Prom was coming to Connolly’s.

Lee Quinby and Daniel Scarpati’s film “Beach 116: Stories from a Rockaway Street” was available on Amazon.

 

February 6

Rescuers demanded answers after two dogs were found dead on Beach 84th Street.

A group of local firefighters placed first in the 50th annual FDNY Ski Race.

 

February 13

The 10th Annual Rockaway Times photo contest launched.

Amira Beatty was on a mission to bring local students on Ivy League college tours.

Elizabeth Walsack, selected as Rockaway’s new NYC Parks Administrator, introduced herself at Community Board 14.

We Gotcha Focaccia was getting ready to hold pop ups.

 

February 20

The honorees were installed for the 50th Annual Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Local moms were holding meetings to try to open a new elementary school, the Rock School.

 

February 27

Rockaway was gearing up for the 50th Annual Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade with Terence Mullin as Grand Marshal.

The Rockaway YMCA was celebrating National Barbie Day.

Construction began on the new $30M Gotham Health healthcare facility in Far Rockaway.

 

March 6

It was a great day for a parade as the 50th Anniversary St. Patrick’s Parade saw a 50-degree day.

Judge Jennifer Tubridy was seeking ballot signatures to run for Civil Court Judge for NYC.

Animal activists turned out strong at the 100th Precinct meeting following slow action on animal cruelty cases.

Randy Colon Jr., a U.S. Army Specialist from Arverne, was brought home to be laid to rest following a fatal car accident near Fort Bragg.

 

March 13

Rockaway’s own Parade Committee President Mike Benn was marching in the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade as Grand Marshal.

Health and Hospitals held a Town Hall on the future of the Neponsit Adult Day Health Center, giving little hope.

 

March 20

Bald eagles were being spotted around the peninsula as spring began.

City of Yes became a hot button issue at local civic meetings.

 

March 27

Athletes, coaches and parents were rallying around Aviator, in the hopes of saving their programs, as the contractor didn’t renew the lease.

Mayor Adams promoted local officer Victor Boamah to Detective.

Local civics and officials filed a lawsuit against City of Yes.

 

April 3

Work on Empire Wind’s offshore wind project began.

Rhythms on the Rock opened in Rockaway Park.

April 10

CB14 focused on the incoming new Queens Bus Redesign Network.

Chris Koch, a man born with no arms or legs, was coming from Canada to compete in the Rockaway Marathon.

 

April 17

Local off-duty lifeguards attempted to rescue a surfer at Riis Park.

The FDNY came to Scholars’ Academy to show off their new technology including drones and robodogs.

Ciro’s Pastry Shop got a new owner with John “Da Baker” Malinconico of La Torre in Howard Beach taking the helm.

 

April 24

NYC Parks announced a new policy to ban bikes from the boardwalk between Beach 73rd and Beach 108th.

St. Edmund Church in Breezy Point suffered a pre-Easter fire.

 

May 1

Rallies began against NYC Parks’ bike ban.

CALLAHEAD In Broad Channel had a major fire.

Jack’s Corner opened on Beach 109th.

The RT revealed the Photo Contest Top 30.

MS 53 Brian Piccolo School cut the ribbon on their hydroponic farm.

Kiwanis launched a little league program.

 

May 8

The BCVFD signed a contract with JAT Construction for their long-awaited new firehouse.

The BCAC’s little league program kicked off the season.

A dead whale with shark bite marks washed up on Beach 97th Street.

 

May 15

NYC Parks pulled the plug on their plan to ban bikes from the boardwalk.

The Rockaway Theatre Company was getting ready to give a world premiere run of “The Value.”

 

May 22

The A train came back in service after a 17-week shutdown.

The Rockaway YMCA was getting ready to host a 10-year anniversary celebration.

After 30 years, The Dragonboat met its demise against time and weather.

 

May 29

Rockaway kicked off the summer season with the beach opening and Memorial Day ceremonies.

Bishop Brennan announced that St. Camillus Church would have to close by the end of the year.

 

June 5

The Irish Festival returned that weekend.

Thrilla in Camilla was coming the following weekend.

Beach 116th held a successful summer kickoff event.

 

June 12

7-year-old Cooper Ray was giving all the news you could use on his YouTube channel.

The HB Hurricanes basketball training program came to Rockaway.

 

June 19

The Community Boathouse ran a kayaking program for veterans.

Councilwoman Joann Ariola was throwing a fireworks show to celebrate the opening of Beach 116th Street after years of closures due to construction.

Blowout Spot S.II opened on Beach 116th Street.

 

June 26

The 19th Annual Rockstock and Barrels was coming.

The Rockaway Beach Pickleball indoor facility was getting ready to open.

 

July 3

Local elected officials held a rally for the land designated for a future trauma center at Beach 62nd and Arverne Blvd., and the funding to transfer the land was allocated in the city budget.

Kathy Heavey retired as president of the 100th Precinct Community Council and a new board was sworn in.

 

July 10

The Rockaway Warriors were coming to town for a weekend of fun.

Drones were spotting more sharks in shallow waters, leading to beach closures.

The Rockaway Freeway Dog Run was facing a mosquito problem.

Locals were looking for more action to take place after two dogs attacked multiple people on the boardwalk.

 

July 17

Gary Sinise came to town to perform a concert for Rockaway Warriors weekend.

A man went missing during a late-night swim on Beach 94th Street.

Sal Y Lima opened in Rockaway Beach.

 

July 24

Local residents were sentenced in a human trafficking and rape case of a minor.

Chosen Connections opened in Broad Channel.

 

July 31

Councilwoman Joann Ariola was getting ready to host the Sandcastle Contest.

A young man drowned on Beach 20th Street.

Chef Whitney Aycock joined as head chef at The Blarney 2.0 in Breezy.

The Rooftop at the Hotel debuted its Asian-inspired menu.

 

August 7

Sean Sheridan, owner of the Bayhouse, died at 64.

Bagel Station Express opened at The Tides.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards allocated $26M in funding toward a future pool at Arverne East.

The local precincts celebrated National Night Out.

August 14

Fr. Gabriel at St. Francis de Sales shared his story of creating his music album.

Shakespeare on the Rocks was readying to make their debut of Romeo and Juliet.

Charles Nopper, former DSNY worker and local bartender, died during the Rockaway Beach Volleyball championship.

 

August 21

Hurricane Erin closed the beaches but brought epic waves to the coast.

It was announced that the Neponsit Adult Day Health Center would officially close on September 19.

The Rockaway Times announced the Top 10 photos for the photo contest.

 

August 28

Similan on the Bay opened up where Thai Rock was.

Patrick Clark got the go ahead to restore the 9/11 Tribute Park center mosaic.

 

September 4

Chris St Lawrence’s whale of a shot won the RT photo contest.

District 27 Superintendent Melissa Compson chatted with the Rockaway Times to kick off the school year.

 

September 11

Rockaway commemorated the 24th anniversary of 9/11.

Leon Ganapolsky announced he was retiring and closing up shop.

The first rockaway Idol, Mary Harkins, was crowned.

 

September 18

Even as beaches closed for the season, first responders were kept busy with after-season water rescues.

A September 11 fire in Breezy Point left Marissa Larsen and her family out of a home.

 

September 25

Poseidon’s Parade was coming up.

SolShyne singer and drummer Gerry Mancini died at 76.

October 2

Beach 116th Fall Fest was coming up.

 

October 9

Rockaway Game Club launched at Bungalow Bar.

NYPD hero Joe Herbert died at 68.

Four churches in Far Rockaway were vandalized.

 

October 16

Fall Freedom Fest was that weekend.

Team RBNY-18 was getting ready to make the 9/11 stair climb for the 10th year.

Broad Channel’s New Life Choir turned 10.

Summer Breezy resident Artie Brennan won a New York Emmy for a short film.

 

October 23

The Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department was making final touches on their haunted house.

Early voting was beginning, and final warnings were given about voting on the ballot proposals.

Locals turned out for a No Kings protest.

Local “Old Jewish Man” David Roffe won a New York Emmy for a Katz’s Deli commercial.

 

October 30

Bishop Brennan came to a town hall at St. Camillus and parishioners pleaded their case for him to keep the church and gym open.

A groundbreaking was held for the new “Beach House” firehouse on Beach Channel Drive.

 

November 6

The results were in for the general election and Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor.

The Rockaway Food Festival was returning for second rounds.

Rockaway’s streets experienced flooding after flash flood rain.

MCU announced they were opening a branch in ABTS.

 

November 13

Legendary firefighter and local bartender Pat Brady died in the line of duty.

Rockaway commemorated Veterans Day.

“Hair” came to the RTC.

November 20

Thousands turned out for the funeral for Lt. Patrick Brady.

Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato announced that she would not seek reelection in 2026.

 

November 26

NYPD Prayer Warriors came out up uplift the 100th Precinct.

Stockings for a Cause kicked off for warrior widow Stephanie McCormick.

The Little North Pole was getting ready to light up for Ali Rose.

Beloved basketball coach Jack Palmese died at age 48.

 

December 4

Holiday cheer spread around the community as the Beach 116th tree and Little North Pole lit up for the season.

Deputy Inspector Carol Hamilton moved on from the 100th Precinct.

The BCVFD finally broke ground on their new firehouse.

 

December 11

The search was on for missing teen Jafet Jemmottt.

Seaweed, Rockaway’s largest legal weed shop, was getting ready to open its doors.

The first Christmas in Belle Harbor and Cavalry of Light was a success.

 

December 18

Rockaway got its first snow for the winter.

SFDS lit its angels and trees for the 10th year.

Locals put in efforts to place wreaths at veteran memorials.

Breezy resident Melissa Burgos was running 12 5Ks to raise money for an animal shelter.

The community celebrated Hanukkah.

 

December 24

Local student athlete Mary Kinnane was announced as an advocate for Tunnel to Towers.

SFDSCA students were selected to make ornaments for the New York tree as part of a national display near the White House.

RBAF hosted a holiday puppet party.