High Tide

Happy Birthday to us! The Rockaway Times is celebrating our 11th anniversary today! On June 26, 2014, we published our very first issue — and we’ve been hitting the stands every Thursday since.

*****

This paper wouldn’t exist without its founder, Kevin Boyle, who had a vision and worked tirelessly to bring it to life. When we took the reins, we promised to change as little as possible and that’s still our goal — why mess with a great thing? The foundation Kevin built was even stronger than we imagined, and we’re proud to continue building on it. We’re incredibly grateful for our amazing team: Katie McFadden, our Managing Editor and our cadre of reporters and columnists, Mary Ellen Olsen, our Manager who handles our ads and puts it all together, Monica Clifford, who does our billing and legals and just about anything else that needs to be done, and Fred Marino, who handles sales. It’s thanks to their dedication — and the care they put into this paper each week — that The Rockaway Times is still here and better than ever. And of course, thank you to the incredible Rockaway community for your support over the last eleven years. We couldn’t have done it without you. So again — thank you, and happy birthday to us!

*****

We also want to give a huge thank you to our loyal advertisers — some of whom have been with us since day one. Without them, there would be no free paper to pick up each week. Please continue to support these local businesses — and when you do, let them know you saw their ad in The Rockaway Times. They keep us going!

*****

Even though the final results of the NYC Democratic Primary Election aren’t expected until later this week due to ranked-choice voting, former Governor Andrew Cuomo conceded the race to 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani shortly after polls closed on Tuesday night. Mamdani, a self-declared democratic socialist, will now face a crowded general election field this November, including Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, Independent candidates Jim Walden and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams — and possibly, once again, Andrew Cuomo himself.

*****

This Saturday, June 28, is the grand opening of Rockaway Beach Pickleball & Golf (97-25 Beach Channel Drive)! Congratulations to the team — we can’t wait to check it out. It looks fantastic, and we’re confident it’ll be a great new addition to the neighborhood. For more, see the full story on page 6 and check out their ad on the back cover.

*****

Also happening Saturday, June 28: RockStock and Barrels is back! Mark your calendar for this all-day music, skate, surf, and shopping festival on Beach 90th Street. You won’t want to miss it!

*****

Hello, Summer! Last Friday marked the Summer Solstice — and boy did it come in … hot! The past few days have been absolute scorchers, with NYC experiencing its highest temperatures in over a decade.

*****

Many folks headed to the beach for a refreshing dip hoping to escape the heat, only to be disappointed to find many beaches closed due to a shortage of lifeguards. Hopefully, once school is out, we’ll see more lifeguards on duty. Fingers crossed! In the meantime, you can check ahead to see which beaches are open and staffed by visiting: www.nycparks.org/facilities/beaches/4

*****

Prefer to read The Rockaway Times online? No problem! Email us at mail@rockawaytimes.com and we’ll sign you up for our weekly email blast, delivered every Thursday morning right to your inbox.