High Tide
Happy 2024! We wish you and yours a very happy and healthy new year!
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Every year, hundreds of thousands (this year’s number is believed to be close to 1.2 million) of people flock to Time Square to watch the ball drop. Every year, the rest of the world is left wondering, why?!
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On New Year’s Day, hundreds of people — some would say just as crazy as those who would go to Times Square — all across the peninsula flocked to their beach of choice and started the year off with a baptism of sorts by taking a dip in the ocean. The plunge into the frigid Atlantic was made a little easier this year by the unseasonably beautiful temperature outside the water.
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After almost 700 days with less than an inch of snow, the drought may finally be over. This weekend, New York City is predicted to be hit with a nor’easter which is set to bring with it some significant snowfall. Today, Thursday, January 4, marks 690 days since the last time Central Park recorded an inch of snow. The city saw only 2.3 inches of snow for all of 2023.
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New column alert! We welcome Lucas Battista’s inaugural Rockaway Review column, in which he critiques some of the latest movies hitting the big screen. Check out Lucas’ work on page 16.
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Think the Ramones deserve to be immortalized in Rockaway? Well, you are not alone! On January 12, the Rambones, a Ramones tribute band, will be performing a free concert at the Rockaway Beach Surf Club to raise awareness for their campaign to name Rockaway’s new amphitheater after the Queens’ punk rockers. Doors will open for the show at 6 p.m., Ramones trivia will be at 7 p.m. and the band will kick off at 8 p.m. While admission is free, donations are welcome and will go towards a fundraising goal and the band.
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This New Year’s Eve, The Rockaway Beach Brewery had a hoppin’ farewell. The local brewery has announced that they will be closing their doors. Rockaway will not only be losing a brewery but also a location that became a breeding ground for all things involving Rockaway creativity. We wish those involved nothing but success moving forward and thank you for the good times!
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Save the date! This year’s Poseidon’s Prom will be held on Saturday, February 3 at 7 p.m. at Connolly’s. Fundraising from the event will help support the annual Poseidon’s Parade!
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NYC Parks and the Army Corps of Engineers recently informed the Rockaway Civic Association that parts of the dunes in Beach 120s had been vandalized. “Coir” mats — which look like rope netting — had been placed over the newly constructed dunes to facilitate planting on the dunes over the winter. These mats, along with some of the mobi-mats, have been ripped up in an act of vandalism and could potentially delay the scheduled work. All involved in the project have asked anyone who sees further vandalism to please report it to the 100th Precinct.
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Wondering what to do with your Christmas tree? For Queens residents, for the first time, the New York City Department of Sanitation has announced to put your “naked” tree — remove stands, lights and ornaments, no plastic bags — with other compostable items for pickup on your regularly scheduled compost/recycling day.
