High Tide
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Get out and enjoy Beach 129th. Beach 129th Street restaurants and bars are coming together to celebrate fall, fun and freedom. On Saturday, the Harbor Light, Jamesons Pub, Pico and Callies are inviting everyone to enjoy a day full of good food, drinks and fine tunes for the first Fall Freedom Fest. The fun starts with Dueling Pianos at Callie’s at 12:30 p.m. (who doesn’t like Dueling Pianos!) and continues with various music offering through the day. Buy a $20 bracelet and get many discounts on food and beverages. Part of the proceeds from the day will go to St. Francis de Sales Academy.
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St. Francis isn’t the only school getting support from a fun event. Tomorrow night, at Bungalow Bar, there is a Roaring 20s theme to a fundraiser for St. Rose. A hundred bucks gets you beer, wine, a buffet and a free raffle ticket. Break out your flapper outfits, go as the Great Gatsby or a corner newspaper boy. In other words, costumes are encouraged. The fun goes from 7-10 p.m.
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Election Day is nearing. Among the races with local interest on November 8, is the battle for Congress. Challenger Paul King, republican, and president of the Belle Harbor Property Owners Association is facing off against Rep. Gregory Meeks, democrat, who has held his seat since 2008. Also, State Assemblywoman Stacey Amato, a democrat first elected in 2016, will again be on the ballot and this time will face Thomas Sullivan, a republican, who twice tried to unseat Joe Addabbo on the State Senate side.
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More grim news from the subway. Jayjon Burnett, just 15, was killed last Friday on the A Train in Far Rockaway. The Queens District Attorney announced that Keyondre Russell, 18, has been charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly shooting and killing the15-year-old following a dispute. According to the charges, the victim was found by police at approximately 3:47 p.m., lying on the subway platform on Beach 32nd Street and Mott Avenue. The investigation was conducted by Detective Douglas Sheeler of the New York Police Department’s 101st Detective Squad.
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In some other grim news, a reader shared that a relative was assaulted on Beach 102nd Street last Monday, October 10. The suspect came from behind and pushed the victim into a street pole, punched him and attempted to rob him, before running off. The victim needed 24 stitches. Please stay aware of your surroundings.
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You don’t need to cross a bridge for a Pumpkin Spice Latte at a Starbucks. You just have to get over to Beach Channel Drive and 73rd Street. Like the stuff they make or not, a new business in the area that was a commercial desert is a welcome addition. Shock: some people online griped about the new store. We prefer another perspective: Starbucks joins Goody’s, Rockaway Brewing, and all the great choices in Arverne By The Sea, including Dunkin Donuts, as another sign that the Arverne area is thriving.
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Not for the birds. A petition online is making the rounds and it appears The Edgemere Community Civic Association has had it with piping plovers and all the protection the bird gets. The group says they are victims of environmental racism and demand access to their beach instead of having to walk a mile. In making its case they say, “For Federal agencies to deem that birds are more important than the black and brown community speaks volumes.” To see more details, go to Change.org and search “plovers Edgemere.”
