High Tide

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We hope everyone enjoyed the LONG Fourth of July weekend! John Adams said of the Fourth of July that “It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” With the displays we saw Tuesday night, we can certainly say that this has been held true, from one end of the peninsula to the other.

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Lifeguards were very busy this weekend across the peninsula making saves, and we thank them for their hard work. Unfortunately, a 14-year-old boy drowned on Sunday near Beach 75th Street after the beach had closed because of the weather. He was removed from the water by lifeguards and was attended to by first responders but was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

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This Saturday, July 8, the Timmy Klein Beach Volleyball Tournament is back for round two! Last year’s tournament was a huge success and a great tribute to an even better man. This year’s tournament, on Beach 121st Street, is sure to be full of great volleyball while bringing the community together to remember Timmy. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Timothy P. Klein Memorial Foundation.

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Kevin Boyle and Rick Horan recently completed a cross-country bike ride, ending up in Rockaway Beach, Oregon. While there, they stopped in the local Chamber of Commerce to say hello and got a great surprise. One of the local leaders said they’d heard about “the hurricane” in our Rockaway (Sandy, 2012) and had a chili cook-off and raised $9,000 to help the people here. They did some research on where to send the money and “voted unanimously to send it to a group called The Graybeards.” It was a goosebump moment as Kevin and Rick are both Graybeards. They told the Chamber folks they had made the right decision and the money was put to good use.

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Due to the ongoing work being done on the uptown beaches, St. Francis de Sales Church has canceled all beach masses this summer.

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After a three-year hiatus due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Ampsurf will host Hope for Warriors for an Adaptive Surf Clinic on Friday and Saturday, July 7 and 8 at Beach 219th Street from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are welcome for both water and land assistance. If you have any questions, text John Roberts at (917) 734-8711.

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Don’t forget to get out and cheer on the Warriors tonight, July 6, with your flags. They are expected to be at the Marine Parkway Bridge between 5:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., then they will be going down Rockaway Beach Blvd. to Beach 120th Street and then back up to Beach Channel Drive on their way to Breezy Point.

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NYC Ferry recently announced a new “Rockaway Reserve,” which started July 1. Riders can reserve a spot on any weekend trips to the beach from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and back from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Reserved tickets cost $10 and are available for purchase up to two weeks ahead. Normal riding options will be available for all unreserved tickets. Reserved tickets are available for purchase in the NYC Ferry app for travel to/from Rockaway via both Wall Street/Pier 11 and Sunset Park/Brooklyn Army Terminal.

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Another reminder about the Edgemere Community Civic Association’s press conference tonight, July 6, at 6 p.m. on the Beach 38th Street boardwalk. The association will be discussing the impact on the community not having access to the beach.