High Tide

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So, you might notice that things look a little different throughout the paper this week. You’ve got a sharp eye! Well, we had a little incident. There was a fire at our printer’s facility located in Rockaway, New Jersey (we’re just Rockaway through and through!). We were informed on Monday that they would not be able to print for us this week (and who knows how long) and yet, here we are, three days later with a paper in your hands. Thanks to some very kind fellow newspaper people, we were able to secure a temporary spot with another printer (thank you Richner Printers!). Now, these were some hectic days, and we were at our temporary printer’s will, so you will notice some things are a little different and other things might be slightly out of the normal order. We apologize and hope to be back to normal as soon as possible. For almost nine years, The Rockaway Times has not missed a week. We plan on keeping that streak going.

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Father Jim of St. Francis de Sales was scheduled to have his kidney transplant surgery this past Tuesday but unfortunately it was postponed. That didn’t stop Fr. Jim and his donor, Mike Coughlin, from being together on the day. Instead, they shared a lunch together at Kennedy’s! The new surgery date is scheduled for May 11.  We continue to keep Father Jim and Mike in our thoughts/prayers.  

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Engine 257 / Ladder 170 / Battalion 58 held a plaque dedication ceremony at their quarters in Canarsie this past Monday, the one-year anniversary of the day we lost FF Timmy Klein. Timmy’s mother DeeDee and Timmy’s fellow firefighter and friend Andrew Spadaro gave Timmy an amazing tribute at the ceremony. 

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Next week, we will have for you the Top 30 from The Rockaway Times Photo Contest! While the photos will be printed in the paper, for now, they will still remain anonymous as our esteemed judges have not agreed to remain sequestered for the summer. 

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Rockaway had quite the showing in this year’s High School Girls Basketball All-Star Team compiled by The Tablet with nominations by the league’s coaches. Five of the talented young ladies who brought home honors call Rockaway home. They could field their own team! The Rockaway All-Stars are Alexandra Carbonaro of Xaverian High School, Caitlin Mullen of Archbishop Molloy, Kaitlyn Nestor of Archbishop Molloy, Jenna Karr of St. Edmunds Prep, and Noelle Polanco of Fontbonne Hall Academy.

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RBQ was officially sold and will be passing the torch to new owners. They will be having a Last Hurrah tomorrow, Friday, April 28.

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On Saturday, April 29 at 11 a.m., head out to the Howard Beach Public Library, located at 92-06 156th Avenue, for Hero Story Time organized by Councilwoman Joann Ariola. Children will be read stories by local heroes including police officers and firefighters.

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The next meeting of the Rockaway Republican Club will be held  at the Belle Harbor Yacht Club on Tuesday May 2 at 7:30 p.m. The keynote speaker this week will be former New York State Attorney General candidate Michael Henry.

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Almost a month after the original deadline, a budget for New York State is expected to be agreed upon by the end of the week. In the end, Governor Hochul’s controversial housing plan was stripped from the budget completely after fierce opposition from suburban legislators.