High Tide

Chag Sameach! Hanukkah began on Sunday, December 14. Happy Hanukkah to all those celebrating the eight-day festival!

*****

Christmas is exactly one week away! Whether you’re looking for last-minute gifts, hosting a party, or heading out to celebrate the holiday season, look no further than The Rockaway Times for help. Many of our loyal advertisers are offering great holiday specials and events. When you take advantage of those deals, be sure to tell them you saw their ad in The Rockaway Times—we would greatly appreciate it!

*****

Speaking of Christmas, since the holiday falls on a Thursday this year, we will be delivering the paper door to door next week on Wednesday, December 24, and it will be emailed at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday as well. A note to advertisers: please have your ads submitted by Tuesday, December 23.

*****

Attention college-age students: ’Tis the season to Darty! St. Francis de Sales Parish invites you to a Christmas Darty on Sunday, January 4, beginning with the 2 p.m. Mass, followed by a reception in the Small Hall.

*****

Empanada on the Rise and Rim Rokaz are collecting toys and sensory items (new and unwrapped) through December 22 to benefit the Special Olympics and RBAF. To schedule a pickup or find out where to drop off donations, contact Jacob at 516-614-9326.

*****

This Sunday, December 21, at 10:03 a.m., marks the winter solstice—the official start of winter—when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest away from the sun. It’s the shortest day and longest night of the year. From here on out, days will slowly but steadily begin to get longer.

*****

At a recent meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it was announced that the uptown ADA ramps will not be constructed before next summer. Those jetty death sticks? Those allegedly won’t be removed before next summer either. There also seem to be few ideas to save the failing mobi-mat crossovers. Disappointing but somehow not surprising.

*****

If you’re considering welcoming a new pet this holiday season, please consider adopting from a local shelter or rescue. There are so many cats and dogs (and even kittens and puppies) in need of loving homes. They’ll be grateful—and love you unconditionally.

*****

There are so many beautiful holiday light displays across the peninsula. One of our favorites each year is the St. Francis de Sales Christmas nativity, complete with memorial trees and angels, which was lit last Saturday night. Stop by and take a look—it’s beautiful, as always.

*****

Some residents have reported seeing groups of parrots flying around Rockaway. There are stories of nests around the peninsula and plenty of theories about where they came from. As mentioned in Paw Prints last month, they are likely wild! It is believed that a crate of Quaker parrots destined for pet shops broke open at JFK airport in the 1960s, and the rest is history.

*****

This was sent to us by a friend and originally posted on social media by former Rockaway resident Matt McLean, then shared by Rockaway Times reader George Pizzo. The CBS comedy “The King of Queens “(1998–2007), starring Kevin James and Leah Remini, featured a fictional Rego Park neighborhood church—played by none other than Rockaway’s own St. Francis de Sales Church. We’re told the church may have even done its own stunts.

*****

We email the entire paper every Thursday to more than 4,200 subscribers—fast (at 8:30 a.m.) and free. Are you receiving it online? If not, drop us a note at Mail@Rockawaytimes.com, and we’ll add you to the list.