High Tide

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What a start to the summer of 2023! From the official beach opening on Friday to non-stop music at the concessions and other popular spots around Rockaway, it was so great to walk around on the boardwalk and see everyone enjoying all that Rockaway has to offer. The Memorial Day weekend weather, which has a reputation for not sharing the same enthusiasm for the weekend as everyone else, could not have been more perfect.

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While this past weekend has become an event to mark the beginning of summer, it is still important to remember Memorial Day for what it is really about – remembering those who have sacrificed their lives fighting for our freedom. There were so many people lined up on Rockaway Beach Boulevard and the boardwalk, watching the Rockaway parade, and in Breezy Point and Broad Channel, as well, for their parades.

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Speaking of the boardwalk, if you are out and about, take some time to look at the Top 30 photos of the 2023 Rockaway Times’ photo contest. They are on the boardwalk in the low to mid Beach 90s. We will announce the top 10 later this summer, and the winners in August. The five Honorable Mention photos are also being displayed by the ferry. All the photos look great! Thank you to the JBRPC for blowing them up and the Parks Department for displaying them. 

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Although Friday was the official beach opening, Saturday was the first day for lifeguards to report to duty. Right now, only about a third of the 1,400 lifeguards needed to man the city’s beaches and pools are ready for duty. Please only go swimming at beaches where lifeguards are on duty. And please remind your children to do the same.

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With so many great things going on around town, you are probably wondering how you’re going to keep track of it all! Well, by using your 2023 Rockaway Times Summer and Community Guide! Didn’t get yours yet? There will be more dropped off at all the usual bulk paper drop spots and if they run out (this is the hottest item in town you know…) then stop by our office for a copy. And please, please support our great advertisers. We could not provide our FREE weekly paper and our FREE 2023 Summer Guide without them. When you do support them, tell them you saw their ad in the Rockaway Times!

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If you are signed up to receive our email blast, you also got the Summer Guide delivered to your inbox this morning! Jealous? Shoot us an email at Mail@rockawaytimes.com and we’ll get you signed up for our email blast.

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This weekend is the 10th Annual Rockaway Beach and Breezy Point Irish Festival hosted by AOH Division 21. On Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., come on out to St. Camillus Church. It is $15 per day for an adult, and children under 12 are free. There’s a great lineup of music and various activities for the kids. So, get out there and enjoy it. 

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Some of you sleuths may have noticed that our website is on the fritz at the moment. We do apologize for any inconvenience (and we are a newsPAPER after all!). Our email blast still went out, as per usual, and you can still read a nice clean PDF version of the paper. We are hoping that you will give us some time to get our ducks in a row and we hope to be back to normal very soon.