Rockaway Journal 03-26-2026 by Richner Communications, Inc

Rockaway JOURNAL

NYC creates first Office of Community Safety

Renita Francois was appointed as deputy mayor for community safety and Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani signed an executive order to create the firstever Mayor’s Office of Community Safety.

We will invest the resources to ensure well coordinated responses rooted in dignity and care.

Francois brings more than 15 years of strategic and operational experience spanning major city agencies, nonprofit advocacy organizations and think tanks. Most recently, she served as chief strategy officer and chief program officer at Tides Advocacy, where she set the organization’s longterm strategy, oversaw millions of dollars in grants and managed relationships with political leaders and community organizations nationwide.

Renita FR ancois Deputy mayor for Community Safety

“Our administration will not wait for change, we will build it,” Mamdani said in a news release. “Renita will lead this work with clarity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to New Yorkers too often left behind — from families confronting gun violence to people navigating mental health crises, hate crimes or substance use issues.”

Previously she served as executive director of the Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety within the Office of Criminal Justice under Mayor Bill de Blasio, where she oversaw more than $500 million in investments in neighborhood safety initiatives — particularly in communities experiencing high-crime— and led strategic efforts across more than a dozen city agencies.

“The evidence is clear: addressing what ails our communities, whether that be crumbling physical infrastructure, social disconnection or lack of access to economic opportunity, is how we best ensure that our communities are safe,” Francois said in the release. “We will invest the resources to ensure

well coordinated responses rooted in dignity and care, centered in community and informed by the experiences of those closest to the solutions meet our fellow New Yorkers who need it most.”

The new office will focus on addressing the root causes of crime and violence, streamlining and expanding evidence-based crime prevention programs and strengthening wraparound services so no New Yorker is left behind.

“Our communities have long known the true sources of safety — addressing poverty, mental health, substance use, and getting to the root causes of conflict and violence before they escalate,” Queens native and Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán said in the release. She represents the 22nd District in northern Queens. “I'm eager to work with her and the mayor to build out a robust Office of Community Safety that enacts a framework that gives people and our communities access to the safety we all deserve.”

The executive order establishes the

Office of Community Safety, to be led by a commissioner who reports directly to the deputy mayor. The office will develop citywide community safety strategies and coordinate the work of the Office of Crime Victim Services, Office to Prevent Gun Violence, Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes and Office of Community Mental Health.

“Keeping New Yorkers safe requires more than one approach,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said in the release. “It means making sure people have access to the resources and services they need, whether that’s career training, an afterschool program, or a police response.”

The new office will also coordinate citywide mental health crisis response programs, including B-HEARD, and convene interagency community safety committees, to ensure New Yorkers receive appropriate care in moments of crisis.

"Her appointment reflects a shared commitment to strengthening community resilience and advancing healthfocused responses across New York City,” Eva Wong, executive director of the Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health, said in the release. “I look forward to working closely with her to deepen cross-agency collaboration that centers care, prevention, and connection, ensuring that New Yorkers experiencing mental health challenges are met with compassion, coordinated support, and clear pathways to recovery and long-term stability.”

— Jeffrey Bessen

Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appoints Renita Francois as deputy mayor for community safety and signed an executive order to create the first-ever Mayor’s Office of Community Safety on March 19.

Wishing all of our friends and neighbors a Happy Passover!

From the staff of

Community Media

Stuart Richner Publisher Rhonda Glickman V.P. Sales

Jeffrey Bessen Jordan Vallone Managing Editor Deputy Editor

SCHOOL briefS

HAFTR celebrates Purim

Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School juniors Gigi Hersh and Emma Zuckerman placed third in their category at the 2026 New York Section of the American Chemical Society Chemagination Competition, on March 4 at St. John’s University.

For the event, high school students are asked to imagine that they are living 25 years in the future and have been invited to write an article for ChemMatters, a magazine for high school students that focuses on the role of chemistry in everyday life.

The subject of the article is: “Describe a recent breakthrough or innovation in chemistry (and/or its applications) that has improved the quality of people’s lives today.”

Hersh and Zuckerman

competed in the Alternative Energy category, presenting a project on using the energy created when salt and fresh water mix together in deltas.

The two students demonstrated impressive curiosity, teamwork and scientific insight in their research of alternative energy. Their project showed both creativity and a strong understanding of important environmental challenges, and earning third place in the unique chemistry competition was a notable accomplishment.

Their hard work, thoughtful research and dedication were commended, and the school said it looks forward to seeing their science research continue to develop.

— Melissa Berman

Fun dress-up days at HALB

On Purim day, Hebrew Academy of Long Beach students visited their morot, rebbeim and principals to celebrate the day together. In school on Shushan Purim, students had fun dress-up days and enjoyed a carnival and chagiga.

Magic Al visited Lev Chana, bringing plenty of fun and laughs as he always does.

HALB eighth graders participated in the annual program on substance abuse awareness and prevention with the CCSA organization.

— Melissa Berman

Lev Chana students celebrated the 100th day of school with special themed activities and by completing 100 mitzvot.

Courtesy Avi Shaver

HAFTR High School juniors Gigi Hersh and Emma Zuckerman placed third in their category at the 2026 New York Section of the American Chemical Society Chemagination Competition.

Courtesy Tanya Dagan Students at the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach celebrated Purim in school by dressing up in costume.

Morton’s of Cedarhurst celebrates 95 years

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

For nearly a century, Morton’s Official Camp Outfitter has been a familiar stop for families preparing for summer — a place where campers pick out trunks, duffels and gear before heading off to sleep away camp.

This year, the Cedarhurst retailer is celebrating its 95th anniversary, marking three generations of family ownership and decades of connection with the community.

The business traces its roots to founder Morton Silverman, who established the store with a simple goal: provide families with quality camp gear at reasonable prices. Over time, that approach helped the store become a trusted destination for generations of customers.

“My father started it,” said Mel Silverman, Morton’s son. “I worked there to learn the business, and then Steven took over and learned to run it. Because of Steven, it’s been a very successful operation.”

In the early years, the store built its reputation on competitive pricing and customer service — a strategy that resonated with families in the Five Towns.

“The popularity came from the idea of selling things at lower prices,” Mel said. “The prices in the Five Towns were too high, so the idea was to run discounts. Big businesses do the same thing today, we just did it on a smaller scale.”

Over time, the business became a staple in the community, particularly for families preparing their children for summer camp.

Today, the store is run by Steven Silverman, the founder’s grandson, who represents the third generation guiding the family business.

“It means that I’m steering the ship,” Steven said. “Morton’s is a third-generation business, and I feel like I’ve taken it in a good direction and kept it relevant in the community.”

That sense of continuity began early for him. Like many family businesses, the next generation learned the ropes by working in the store from a young age.

“My grandfather and my father had a very strong work ethic,” Steven said. “They always felt it was our responsibil-

ity as kids to work in the business, even when we didn’t know what we were doing.”

After graduating from college, Steven initially pursued other opportunities, working in the computer systems and entertainment industries before returning to the family store. Joining the business full time meant working closely with his father, Jerry, something that occasionally led to spirited debates but also valuable lessons.

“My father had really good instincts,” Steven added. “He was very disciplined and very smart. I learned a lot from him, especially about maintaining quality and always carrying the best items for customers.”

Over the decades, Morton’s has built strong relationships with families

throughout the community. Many customers who once came in as campers now return as parents — and even grandparents — bringing their own children to prepare for summer.

“It’s almost like a family when you walk in,” Steven said. “We know our customers, we know their kids, and sometimes we know multiple generations of their families. That’s a good feeling.”

Chris McGrath, 67, who lived in Inwood and graduated from Lawrence High School, worked there from 11th grade throughout law school.

“I worked for Morton himself and Steven’s father Jerry,” McGrath said. “My favorite part was working for a family. Steven’s father Jerry cared about you as much as he would any employee.”

McGrath said one of his fondest memories is Jerry telling him to go home and study for his math test even though the store was packed.

“What other boss would do that,” he said. “There was nobody like him. I attribute a lot of my success as a lawyer to working with him, he taught me how to work with people and was a great role model for anybody who worked there.”

For the Silverman family, reaching 95 years in business is both a milestone and a source of pride.

“There’s a lot of pride in being part of something that’s lasted this long,” Mel said. “You feel, in your own way, that you’re part of something important

A. B. residents concerned over impaired driving

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY

awarshavsky@liherald.com

More than 31,000 impaired driving arrests were made across the state in 2024, highlighting the continued prevalence of drunk driving, according to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research. The ITSMR also found that of the over 3,400 crashes involving an impaired driver in New York State, 15 percent occurred on Long Island.

In Atlantic Beach, that risk became clear last December when a driver leaving a nearby holiday party collided with a car carrying a family of three. The driver, a 30-year-old Brentwood man, had a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit of 0.08 percent and Delta-9-THC in his blood, according to Nassau County prosecutors. The crash forced an 11-yearold boy and his mother to be airlifted to Cohen Children’s Hospital. The father sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Accident reports and impaired driving arrests often fall on the desk of John Rofrano, a police officer at Nassau County Police Department’s Fourth Precinct. He addressed concerned residents at the village meeting on March 9, saying that the fight against drunk and impaired driving is an uphill one felt countywide.

“DWIs are happening at all hours of the day,” Rofrano said. “The police depart-

ment is constantly trying to figure out the best solution.”

For drunk drivers who choose to get behind the wheel, their actions before their arrest or accident are scrutinized. Investigators examine where drivers were coming from, including whether they had been served at a bar or restaurant.

“Restaurants and bars that overserve are getting their end of violations,” Rofrano said. “The state comes in, the Town of Hempstead comes in. They will do their checks and issue violations.”

Residents questioned Rofrano about marijuana intervention and the steps taken when suspected drivers are pulled

over. Rofrano explained that officers must prove a driver was operating erratically or exhibiting clear signs of impairment, as the smell of marijuana alone is not enough to justify an to arrest. They then must be taken to the Central Testing Section at the county headquarters in Mineola for a blood test, which Rofrano said most people deny.

“It makes the charges difficult to stick,” Rofrano said of marijuana-related incidents. “We have an uphill battle with that.”

In response, many police officers have been taking cannabis recognition courses offered by the United States Department

of Justice, including Rofrano. “They’ve given us all the tools,” he said. “We are out there trying to find it.”

Another question posed by residents was whether their neighbors in Long Beach were doing enough to dissuade drunk driving. While Long Beach has its own police department, Rofrano said officers there do a good job preventing patrons from leaving bars while impaired and that their work benefits the safety of Atlantic Beach residents.

In a later interview with the Herald, Richard DePalma, commissioner of the Long Beach Police Department, said that there are many businesses from surrounding areas that serve alcohol. He noted that dozens of marinas, restaurants and beach clubs operate between Point Lookout and Far Rockaway, including Atlantic Beach.

“Impaired driving is an issue that goes far beyond Long Beach,” DePalma said. “To point the finger at Long Beach is disingenuous.”

To combat impaired driving, NCPD will increase its patrols leading into the summer months. The department will also add specialized checkpoints and decoy cars to deter impaired drivers. Rofrano reminded residents not to drive after drinking and encouraged them to call a friend, take a taxi or use a rideshare service instead.

Courtesy Steven Silverman

Morton’s Official Camp Outfitter originally opened in Far Rockaway and is celebrating 95 years of business with their third-generation owner.

Aidan Warshavsky/Herald

Atlantic Beach residents asked a variety of questions related to impaired driving. John Rofrano, a fourth precinct police officer, far right, addressed their concerns while giving his officers report at the village meeting on March 9.

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A permit just for my parents?

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Q. We just moved from the city, and found a notice on our door saying we have to get a permit for my parents to continue living with us. Neighbors were probably the ones who called the building department. My parents have always shared a house with us, in their own separate basement area with a kitchen, where they can come and go as they wish and spend time with their grandchildren, especially while we’re at work. We can’t just send my parents somewhere. What is the easiest way to get what we need?

A. You will need 1) the whole home measured, 2) floor plans drawn, 3) paperwork filed with a building department, 4) rejected for zoning reasons, 5) the application package forwarded to a separate zoning board, 6) wait your turn to get your documents reviewed before you get a zoning hearing, 7) given an appearance date, 8) attend a public hearing to see your case presented, 9) await a building plan review for the necessary safety and code requirements, 10) pay for the approved permit(s) to be issued, 11) get a contractor, plumber and electrician, and 12) arrange for plumbing, electric and final inspections to complete the process.

In some communities, the procedures can take well over a year. You will need patience and trust that you will eventually get to the end.

It’s admirable that you have a family that is appreciative enough to support one another’s needs, like watching the children and spending valuable time together. You might think this kind of extended family unit would be encouraged, but there are reasons it is scrutinized, including safety concerns, home values, parking and monitoring the number of people on a property. Although neighbors do not have authority to reject your living situation, if you are not respectful of everyone around you, including parking considerately, keeping the property neat and quiet, neighbors will complain.

Cooking fires are a leading cause of home casualties. Primary or second kitchens located in a basement are prohibited in nearly every community I have ever dealt with. I just saw that a father and son perished in a basement fire, coincidentally, in a home I wrote a safety report about within the past year. I commented on how the basement was a nonhabitable space, and yet someone cleaned it up, moved in, and now a father and child have died.

The fire chief said it is very difficult, almost impossible, to fight a basement fire, because flames are blasting up at you while you’re trying to get down and into the space. Basement walls can’t be cut to relieve the heat and smoke buildup.

You may think of a home as a place to live, and fortunately, or unfortunately, disasters have shaped strict rules made to prevent more disasters. Not having a basement kitchen can save lives. Your parents won’t be sent away, but you will need to start the process as outlined above. Good luck!

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