High Tide

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Happy Fourth of July! We hope everyone has a safe and fun weekend!

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Hope for the Warriors is heading back to Rockaway! The heroes will be welcomed into town for their weekend of fun with a procession over the Marine Parkway Bridge, down Rockaway Beach Blvd., and then back down Beach Channel Drive to Breezy. The procession will be taking place on the evening of Thursday, July 6. In addition to lining the streets, there will also be people lining the Marine Parkway Bridge to cheer on the procession. The vets are expected on the bridge between 5:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. so please arrive on time if you wish to join on the bridge. For more information, please call (347) 992-3739. Keep in mind that, due to the procession, there should be some closures and delays expected around Flatbush Ave. and the Belt Parkway around that time.

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Another devastating tragedy occurred last week in Rockaway. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of 19-year-old Ava Conklin, who was tragically killed by a car that hit her while she was waiting for her sister at the bus stop at Beach 108th Street and Rockaway Beach Blvd. on Saturday after working her shift as a hostess at the Rockaway Hotel. Ava lived in Manhattan with her mother. Her father, Matthew Conklin, and stepmother live in Broad Channel. There will be a local ceremony in memory of Ava Friday night, June 30 at 7:30 p.m. at Beach 108th Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard.

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School may be out for summer, but St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy is hosting their 2nd Annual Summer Concert on Thursday, July 6 in the schoolyard starting at 6 p.m. Local band, The Midnight Society, will kick things off, followed by the Due South Band at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at https://ticketstripe.com/SFDSCA_2023_Summer_Concert

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This Friday, June 30, the Thrilla in Camilla makes its return! The seventh annual bouts, whose proceeds benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, will take place under the stars at the St. Camillus on Beach 99th Street with the gates opening at 6 p.m. and the first bout at 7:30 p.m.

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Boar’s Head will be naming Bagel Barista Station on Beach 116th as a “Market of Distinction” on Friday, June 30. They’ll be celebrating with giveaways from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Congrats!

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Well, it appears some commuters’ worst nightmare is about to become a reality. After overcoming a final obstacle from the federal government, New York is set to institute a first of its kind in the nation “congestion pricing” for vehicles entering Manhattan south of 60th Street. While final pricing has not been determined yet by the MTA, one proposal had it as high as $23 during rush hours and $17 during off peak hours. This would be in addition to any bridge or tunnel tolls. Although there is staunch opposition, New York State lawmakers approved the measure in 2019 and with the federal government’s recent approval, the new pricing is expected to go into effect as early as the spring of 2024. According to Gov. Kathy Hochul, “Congestion pricing will reduce traffic in our crowded downtown, improve air quality and provide critical resources to the MTA.”

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The Edgemere Community Civic Association will be holding a press conference next Thursday, July 6 at 6 p.m. on Beach 38th Street and the boardwalk. The association will be discussing the impact of the community not having access to the beach.