High Tide
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The Queens Chamber of Commerce is looking to settle, once and for all, who has the best pizza in Queens. They will be running a borough-wide competition to determine who has the best slice. To avoid controversy, they say you should avoid talking politics, religion and, down here, pizza. Voting will begin on January 23, so make sure your voice is heard!
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Going once, going twice… Auctions aren’t the usual way things are sold in Rockaway, so this got our attention. Two plots on Rockaway Beach Blvd. will be up for auction from January 24-26. Some might remember AB Studios offered music and events at the site. The listed starting bid is $500,000.
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Football fans watching the incredible comeback by the Jacksonville Jaguars against the LA Chargers last Saturday got to see Foley Fatukasi, of Far Rockaway and Beach Channel High School, lead the Jag’s defense as they held LA to just three second half points. Teammates gave Foley praise for pumping them up at halftime.
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Our new Math Rocks corner has been stumping the brightest minds in Rockaway for two weeks. Check it out on page 19 and see if you fare any better!
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After nearly four years in business, the Beach 96th corner cafe Bernadette’s is officially closing their 95-19 Rockaway Beach Blvd. location due to rising costs. Their last day of service will be January 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. As the Robinson family figures out their next steps, you may still be able to try their delicious food at occasional pop-ups and special events.
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The suggestions for Sean McVeigh’s new column name have been coming in fast and furious. It is much appreciated. Unfortunately, he is not a decisive fellow and a decision has yet to be made, so please keep the feedback coming as he deliberates on a final name.
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We received word that the DEP was spotted cleaning catch basins on 128th Street last Friday after the Rockaway Times was released. While we appreciate the effort, we believe this will have no meaningful impact as long as the water is able to come back up through the basins. The City must invest in a solution to prevent the water from being able to move in both directions.
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If you can lose it here, you can lose it anywhere! Since mobile betting became legal in NY on January 8 last year, bettors have put up more than $16 billion resulting in more than $700 million in taxes for NY. The State made an additional $200 million from licensing fees with the gambling companies. State officials said that $5 million of that would go to funding of kids’ sports programs and $6 million is to be spent on gambling addiction treatment. The rest will go to funding education. Isn’t that where the lottery tax dollars go, as well? We must have a pretty great education system!
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An unprecedented seven whales have washed up across the shores of New York and New Jersey in just over the past month. Experts fear that it may be linked to the offshore wind energy activities and have called on federal and state officials to act. “If the offshore wind energy activities are deemed the cause, a moratorium should continue until stringent protection measures are established,” said Bonnie Brady of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association. So far, calls to address the situation have fallen on deaf ears and no action has been taken at this time.
