High Tide

Happy Thanksgiving! We are grateful for our loyal readers and contributors, as well as our wonderful advertisers who continue to support us year after year. We wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and hope you enjoy a well-deserved long weekend!

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How about a fun run to kick off your holiday? The Rockaway Track Club is hosting a 5K Turkey Trot tomorrow, November 27, on the boardwalk at Beach 108th Street. You can sign up on their website, www.rockawaytc.org, or register in person at Healy’s, 108-07 Rockaway Beach Drive, starting at 9 a.m. The race begins at 10 a.m.

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Saint Mary Star of the Sea Church invites friends and neighbors in the Rockaways to a bilingual (Spanish/English) Thanksgiving Mass at 10:30 a.m. The Mass will be held at the church, located at 1920 New Haven Ave. All are also invited to join for a Thanksgiving meal in the school auditorium immediately following Mass. Bring your family to join St. Mary Star of the Sea’s family!

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Many of our advertisers are offering great specials for the upcoming holiday season. The peninsula has so much to offer! When you take advantage of their deals, please be sure to let them know you saw their ad in The Rockaway Times — we really appreciate it.

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Speaking of the holidays, you better watch out … Santa Claus is coming to town early this year. The Little North Pole lights up this Saturday, November 29. The festivities begin at 3:30 p.m. at 144-03 Neponsit Avenue. The event will be emceed by Joe Causi and Goumba Johnny, and as always, it’s made possible by host Joe Mure and a dedicated team of volunteers. They all deserve our thanks — it’s consistently a spectacular event.

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Locals Helping Locals is back with their holiday toy drive. From now through December 21, they’re collecting new toys to give away at Grind Time Collective (90-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd.) at an event on Sunday, December 21 at 1 p.m., featuring pictures with Santa, snacks, arts and crafts, music and more. Child must be present to receive a toy. For an Amazon Wishlist and more info on how to donate, reach out to Evelyn at 347-944-8955 or Lisa at 702-523-7293.

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CA$H DA$H ON THE ROCK, a grassroots collective, will host a Cash Mob in Downtown Far Rockaway on Small Business Saturday, November 29, from 2 to 4 p.m. The event encourages the community to “get offline and get on the block” by spending at least $20 at local small businesses to help strengthen the neighborhood’s economic foundation. Shoppers and supporters are invited to meet at the greenspace at Mott Avenue and Central Avenue, across from the new Queens Library, to join the movement and rediscover Downtown Far Rockaway’s many local treasures.

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Save the date for Christmas in Belle Harbor next Sunday, December 7, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Beach 129th Street. There will be vendors, a snowman bounce house, a train ride, and festive fun for the whole family.

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The next meeting of the Rockaway Beach Civic Association will take place on Thursday, December 4, at 7 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room at the Knights of Columbus (333 Beach 90th Street). The RBCA will welcome guest speaker Kim Fraczek, Director of the Sane Energy Project, who will discuss the ramifications of Governor Hochul’s approval of a key water quality permit for the Williams NESE Pipeline.