High Tide
This Saturday, Rockaway will close out summer the nautical way! The 10th annual Poseidon Parade will kick off Saturday, September 21, starting at 1 p.m. from Beach 105th Street and marching down to Beach 97th Street. This Rockaway tradition is always a great day with costumes and floats that never disappoint. Registration is still open and can be done at poseidonsparade.com
*****
Hard to believe it’s been a year since the lease was signed for the migrant shelter at Floyd Bennett Field. This past week, despite the efforts of Councilwoman Joann Ariola and others, the city’s lease to continue to operate a shelter on the federally owned National Park land was extended another year.
*****
Next weekend, on Saturday, September 28, St. Francis de Sales Parish is having their Fall Fest in the schoolyard at Beach 129 St. From 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., there will be Family Festival, where there will be rides, games, vendors, crafts, a pumpkin patch, fall flower sale and raffles. It is free to enter, and kids’ wristbands will be sold for $25 for unlimited games and rides. Then, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., it will be Oktoberfest, with the Russo Brothers Band, beer, wine, German food, DJ, dancers and raffles. Tickets are for 21 & older only for $100, and $75 for seniors (65 and older). See page 9 of this paper for more details and tickets are also available at https://ticketstripe.com/SFDS_Oktoberfest_2024
*****
The Beach 116 Street Fall Fest is scheduled for next Sunday, September 29, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you are a local vendor and want to be part of the Fall Fest, contact Michael Fiore at Michael@themeatupgrill.com for further details.
*****
Rockaway is likely getting a new NYC Parks Administrator. We were recently informed that after concerns expressed by Councilwoman Joann Ariola and at civic meetings over the summer, over current Rockaway Administrator Eric Peterson, NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue has allegedly let some know that Peterson will be reassigned sometime this fall. We wish him well.
*****
Have you seen THE BLOCK? Local resident and filmmaker Robert Sarnoff recently let us know that his film featuring his neighbors on Beach 138th Street will be screened as part of the Rockaway Film Festival’s Local Filmmakers’ Showcase on Sunday, September 29, 7 p.m. at the Annex Cinema located at 415 Beach 72nd Street. Sarnoff will be available for a Q&A session. For tickets (free) and more info, see: rockawayfilmfestival.org
*****
Vote for our friends at RISE. RISE has been chosen to participate in a special charitable giving campaign sponsored and funded by Target. Now through September 30, 2024, vote for Rockaway Waterfront Alliance, Inc. d/b/a RISE Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity through the Target Circle program to help direct a portion of its donation to the local organization.
*****
Things continue to get worse at “sacrifice shores” around Jamaica Bay. On Tuesday night, the bodies of three decapitated roosters and a dog placed in a plastic bag in the water, were found at Hamilton Beach.
*****
Just a friendly reminder: although it feels like summer is over and the jeans and flannels are right around the corner, the uptown summer parking rules remain in effect for two more weeks. The weekend parking restrictions officially end on September 30.
*****
Want the full Rockaway Times by email each week? Just send us an email at Mail@Rockawaytimes.com and we’ll sign you up.
