High Tide

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Well, it’s here. Happy Summer 2023! We hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! Thankfully, it looks as if the weather will be cooperating for all of the festivities for the holiday weekend. Fingers crossed it stays that way!

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OK everyone, let’s keep the jokes to a minimum… The official 2023 beach opening takes place tomorrow, Friday, May 26, at 10 a.m. at Beach 94th Street. Lifeguards will be officially on duty starting Saturday, May 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at specified locations. 

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While we continue to remain optimistic, as is our nature here at The Rockaway Times, it is not a great sign when NYC Parks announces changes to their beach closure schedule late last Friday evening to include even more beach closures uptown. According to the new schedule, of the previously mentioned “opened” beaches, only Beach 131st to Beach 133rd are now scheduled to be open, and the other beaches will be closed due to dune construction. This leaves just two or three blocks of beaches in all of Belle Harbor open for full access for the month of June. 

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If you find yourself on the boardwalk this weekend, be sure to take a look at the Top 30 finalists of the 2023 Rockaway Times’ Photo Contest. These photos, along with five honorable mentions (which can also be found in this week’s paper), will be displayed throughout the summer on the boardwalk and by the ferry. 

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Speaking of summer, The Rockaway Times’ 2023 Summer & Community Guide is also being delivered with the paper this week. Please, please support our great and loyal advertisers. Without them, we would not be able to deliver The Rockaway Times’ weekly paper or our 108-page Summer Guide for FREE! They clearly believe in us, and the Rockaway community, so please get out there and support them this weekend and all summer, and remember to tell them you saw their ad in The Rockaway Times!

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NYC Parks announced last week that six projects involving new amenities and upgrades to Rockaway Beach have either recently been completed or are expected to be completed this summer, costing over $33 million. 

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Last week, Tess Kuhlmann, a local freshman at Fontbonne Hall Academy and SFDS alum, was in a terrible accident. As she recovers, The Rockaway Times and all of Rockaway continue to pray for her and her family during this difficult time. 

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The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, together with Rockaway Beach Veterinary Services, will be hosting their first annual food drive from June 1 to June 14. The drop off site will be at RBVS located at 92-02 Rockaway Beach Blvd. They will be collecting non-perishable foods and all donations will be provided to the St. Camillus Food Pantry. 

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We were happy to hear Father Jim Cunningham is back at home at St. Francis de Sales after having received a kidney from parishioner Mike Coughlin. Mike and Father Jim remain in our thoughts and prayers, and we wish them a quick recovery. 

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Lawrence Woodmere Academy has been attracting young students from Rockaway for years. Want to see what they are all about? Well, check it out for yourself at their in-person Open House next Wednesday, May 31 at 9 a.m. To register, visit: LawrenceWoodmere.org 

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If you are taking the ferry to or from Rockaway, note that they have just changed their schedule. If you are traveling this weekend, there is a specific Memorial Day Week Schedule (from May 22 to May 29). After that, a new summer schedule starts on May 30.