High Tide
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On Monday evening, a 65-year-old woman was bitten by a shark while in the water off Beach 59th Street — the first shark attack in Rockaway’s recent memory. The woman was transported to Jamaica Hospital in critical but stable condition. We pray that she makes a full recovery. On Tuesday, the beach was closed for the entire day. We have always known these sharks were there, this is their home, after all, and we’re just visitors — a shark’s version of DFDs. In recent years, sharks have been creeping slowly back into our consciousness. It is almost commonplace now to see lifeguards clear the water for shark sightings and there have been several minor bites on beaches on Long Island. As everyone knows, there is no barrier between those Long Island beaches and our own. The same shark in Fire Island could be in Rockaway in a matter of hours. (The city and its LI county counterparts have not figured out a way to charge a toll to traverse these waters … yet.) The waters around our peninsula are cleaner than they have been in decades. This is not just a benefit to us but also to the marine life we share these waters with. Drones flying overhead or whatever other cockamamy ideas officials come up with are not going to change that. It is just a fact that we are all going to have to learn to live with.
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Congratulations to all who participated in this year’s Sandcastle Contest! The talent and creativity this year was truly awe-some. The event was quarterbacked by our very own Jeanne Ferriola! Thank you to the New York City Parks Department for all their help. And a very special thank you to our esteemed judges: Kaitlin Gibbons, Eric Peterson, Bobby Mulholland, and Joann Ariola! The contest would not have been possible without sponsorship from some of our great friends at the Wharf, Callie’s, Harbor Light, Meat Up Grill, Pico, Bungalow Bar, Coastal Market and Carvel.
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The wait is over! Next week, we will be announcing the 2023 Rockaway Times Photo Contest’s Top 10 right here in these pages! If you have not gotten down to the Boardwalk and Ferry Landing to check out the Top 30 and Honorable Mentions, please do so before they are taken down.
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The NBA’s Charlotte Hornets have new ownership. Among the pair that made the purchase is Rick Schnall who grew up right here in Rockaway. He now joins Michael Jordan, a minority stake holder in the team, in trying to turn the Hornets fortunes around. Good luck, Ricky!
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A big shout out to JW Youngberg, class of 2025 of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy, who was selected as Joann Ariola’s Councilperson of the day for his essay on a veteran (his uncle, Michael Coughlin, who also recently donated his kidney to Father Jim of SFDS and was featured on our cover not long ago). JW got to spend the day with the Councilwoman and witness the inner workings of city government.
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There will be a street co-naming in honor of Rockaway hero Firefighter Timothy Klein on August 23 at 11 a.m. at Beach 129th Street and Newport Ave. Timmy made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our city on April 24, 2022. Join the community in honoring Timmy as we immortalize his legacy with this street co-naming so future generations never forget Timmy’s sacrifice and the hero who called the Rockaway peninsula home.
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The Queens Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Best Barbeque in Queens contest is taking place right now. Queens residents can nominate their favorite barbeque eateries now through August 23. Public voting will run from August 28 to September 8. The winner will be announced September 13. For more information and to nominate your favorite barbeque restaurant, go to queenschamber.org
