COMPLIMENTARY – PLEASE TAKE ONLY ONE
VOL. 1 • NUMBER 1 • JUNE 26, 2014
IT'S TIME...
HELLO ROCKAWAY See page 11
Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014 | 1
Bills Boost de Blasio’s Vision for Safer Streets By Phil Corso Mayor Bill de Blasio gave a huge boost to his Vision Zero initiative Monday, signing 11 bills to make city streets safer. De Blasio sat near the same Woodside intersection where 8-year-old Noshat Nahian was killed in December, showing that change was made to prevent any more loss of life there. The new package of legislation included reforms to major agencies, including the Department of Transportation and Taxi and Limousine Commission. “We have promised the people of this city that we will use every tool we have to make streets safer,” de Blasio said. “Today is another step on our path to fulfilling that promise, and sparing more families the pain of losing a son, a daughter, or a parent in a senseless tragedy.” Standing beside the mayor were members of the DOT and City Council, all of whom have been working together for months in mulling over the Vision Zero mindset, which set out to reduce traffic-related deaths in New York City to zero over 10
Photo courtesy NYC Mayor’s Office
Mayor Bill de Blasio pens 11 pieces of traffic legislation into law near a busy intersection in
years. De Blasio said one of the most noteworthy reforms to come out of the 11 bills signed Monday included lowering the city’s default speed limit from 30 to 25 miles per hour.
De Blasio picked the intersection in Woodside because it was the same site where Nahian was hit and killed at 61st Street and Northern Boulevard in while he was walking with his sister to PS 152. That
intersection has since been transformed with two new pedestrian islands, new crosswalks and parking regulation changes. “There is much more work ahead, both here in the five boroughs and up in Albany,” he said. “But today, we thank the families, advocates, and City Council members who have taken up this cause and helped us better protect our fellow New Yorkers,” The legislation also included requirements for the city DOT to repair traffic signals within one day of being notified and install seven Neighborhood Slow Zones this year and next year while lowering speeds to 15-20 miles per hour near 50 schools each year. City Councilman Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows) was only one of several Queens lawmakers to sponsor parts of the legislation package, including one that required the city to fix broken traffic signals within a day of them being reported. “Vision Zero means making our roadways safe not just for those who walk, ride and drive on them, but for those who work on them, as well,” Lancman said.
State Legislation Passed to Save Mute Swans By Debbie Cohen On the same day that state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) passed his state legislative bill establishing a two-year moratorium on the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) plan to eradicate all wild mute swans in the state by 2025, two mute swans were shot dead in the middle of the day at Black River Bay in Jefferson County. Avella said he feels this was a deplorable act on June 18, which prompted him two days later to send a stern letter to DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens asking to halt all killings. “I think it is now quite clear that DEC’s careless plan to eradicate the entire mute swan species entailed too many questions and not enough answers,” Avella said in a statement. The same version of the senator’s bill passed earlier last month in the Assembly, which Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz spearheaded. The bill will now be delivered to Gov-
File Photo
Elected officials and animal rights advocates are calling for a moratorium on the state’s plan to eradicate all 2,200 wild mute swans by the year 2025.
ernor Andrew Cuomo for his signature, which can take up to several weeks. The bill also requires the DEC demonstrates that actual damage to the environment or other species have been caused by the mute swan
population across the state. Edita Birnkrant, state campaign director for the nonprofit Friends of Animals, had some stern words of her own to say about what the DEC chooses to do to the swans. “There are only 2,200 mute
swans in the entire state and they have been around for decades. And now the DEC decides to kill them just because they are a non-native species and they consume too much vegetation,” Birnkrant said. “We will not stand for the extinction of this most beloved species of water fowl.” She said most New Yorkers enjoy the swans and look forward to seeing them in scenic places around the borough like Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Flushing Meadows Park. Peter Muller, chairman of the League of Humane Voters, said the DEC was following their own protocol despite what the law said. “The DEC claims that the mute swans are non-native, but the same can be said about people who are non-native and from different parts of the country,” Muller said. “So why pick on the swans? There are many environment organizations and people that are against these killings. I just hope the governor realizes how important this is and he signs the bill.”
Kew Gardens Bodega Owner Convicted on Gun, Narcotics Charges
There was nothing “Mom and Pop” about a former Queens bodega owner convicted this week of conspiring to sell cocaine and possessing illegal firearms. According to the District Attorney’s office, the defendant, Jaime Corchado, used his Kew Gardens grocery store as a front to traffic in narcotics. This joint investigation by the Queens DA’s Office
and the New York City Police Department. The 37-year-old, who resides in Baldwin, was convicted on various charges for sale of a contolled substance and weapons possession. He faces up to fifteen years in prison for weapons possession and nine years for sale of a controlled substance.
According to trial testimony, Corchado was meeting a narcotics buyer in order to sell him an “eight ball,” of cocaine. Police observed the transaction between the buyer and Corchado. Between November 2010 and August 2011, Corchado was overheard engaging in hundreds of narcotics-related communications on his cell phone. A search warrant was ex-
ecuted at Corchado’s convenience store, where police recovered two plastic bags containing cocaine, two plastic bags containing marijuana and a scale. Another search warrant was executed at his residence where police recovered several guns, magazines and approximately 100 rounds of various caliber ammunition.
Ferry Needs Budget Lifeline July 1 Is Sink Or Swim
Photo by Bianca Fortis
Rockaway residents have said it loud and clear: they want the ferry to stay!
By Bianca Fortis The boat hasn’t left the dock just yet. Although New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council announced an agreement on the city’s budget on June 20, there has been no confirmation as to whether the 2014-2015 fiscal budget will include funding to maintain the Rockaway ferry. The ferry has operated between Rocka-
way, Brooklyn Army Terminal and Manhattan since November of 2012 when Hurricane Sandy wiped out service on the A Train. Train service has long since been reactivated, but Rockaway residents want to keep the ferry because travel time to and from the city is much faster and efficient. Ferry service is currently scheduled to end in October. Together with elected officials, Rockaway residents held two press conferences
during the past two weeks, one in front of City Hall and one at the Rockaway ferry landing. About 100 people attended the Rockaway event. Not only did they ask the mayor and the City Council to keep the ferry, but they said they would like to expand it as well. “Providing a ferry to the Rockaways is really a life line,” Borough President Melinda Katz said during the City Hall press event. “For me the issue is really about economic development. A number of businesses rely upon that ferry, need to create access to the residents of Rockaway. Elected officials from other boroughs have joined in support as well. “Manhattanites want the ferry to the Rockaways,” Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer said. “And I love the Rockaways.” On June 19, Community Board 14 submitted a letter to de Blasio again asking him to keep the ferry. In the letter, District Manager Jonathan Gaska pointed out that Staten Island has had a completely free ferry for decades. “All we ask is that you include funding in this upcoming year’s fiscal budget to continue the subsidy that has been offered so the ferry can continue to operate,” he said. “Our economic stability and survival is in your hands.” The new fiscal budget goes into effect July 1.
The following elected officials signed their name to a letter asking Mayor Bill de Blasio to provide permanent Rockaway ferry service: Queens Borough President Melinda Katz Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) State Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) State Sen. James Sanders (D-South Ozone Park) State Sen. Diane Savino (D-Staten Island) Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Beach) City Councilman (D-Laurelton) Donovan Richards City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) City Councilman Carlos Menchaca (D-Brooklyn)
Goldfeder: Banks Tidy Up Vacant Homes By Bianca Fortis and Anna Gustafson After living in a hotel for months, Joyce Zoller was able to move back into her Neponsit home in February 2013, months after Hurricane Sandy had forced her out. Now she may have to leave a second time, again a victim of the 2012 storm. Zoller, 58, noticed that after she returned home, she had trouble breathing and frequently felt light-headed. She later learned it was a result of the house next to her; owned by HSBC Bank, it has become a breeding ground for mold and vermin. Zoller’s doctors have since advised her to move. “I walk around with a mask on inside because it’s so bad,” Zoller, a cancer survivor, said at a press conference earlier this month. “Tell me, is that normal? And now I have to leave my own home.” Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Park) said his office is aware of about 60 sites in south Queens and Rockaway that have been left decaying since the storm. He unveiled this month a
The sign says it all about the house at 145-08 Neponsit Avenue.
three-point plan to address the abandoned and vacant properties blighting the communities torn apart by Sandy. And the first piece of the plan is to target the banks. Goldfeder sponsored the Abandoned Property Neighborhood Relief Act, legislation drafted by State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, that requires banks to maintain properties no later than three months after they have become vacant. Currently banks often wait until the end of a lengthy foreclosure process to worry about upkeep of the
properties. Goldfeder said that beyond being a health concern, the homes can also invite crime and lower neighborhood property values. “This legislation will create a balanced measure that will help protect our neighborhoods by identifying and ensuring maintenance of properties before they become a community hazard,” Goldfeder said in a statement. “Banks often play games during foreclosure proceedings to delay responsibility and it is simply unacceptable." The second piece of Gold-
Photo by Anna Gustafson
feder’s plan is to call on the New York City Council to pass legislation that would allow the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Department of Buildings to inspect and remediate mold growth in vacant properties. Mortgage holders would be responsible for the cost. Last summer Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) proposed a bill that would give the city Department of Health similar authorization, but that bill has not yet passed. “The last thing a homeowner
should have to worry about while they’re rebuilding is the property next door,” Goldfeder said. “The proposed state laws would clarify ownership and responsibility, while the city council’s legislation will allow agencies to intervene when banks or homeowners are unresponsive.” Finally, Goldfeder sent a letter to Police Commissioner Bratton requesting the NYPD develop a registry to help local precincts monitor abandoned and vacant properties for illegal activity. Abandoned homes can attract squatters or other criminal activity, according to Goldfeder. “These vacant and abandoned Sandy-damaged properties can cause serious health issues in our communities,” Danny Ruscillo, president of the 100th Precinct Community Council, said last week. “Who knows what was left behind in them from Superstorm Sandy? Mold, chemicals dangerous debris -- this can all cause serious health problems to our young and our elderly.” Homeowners can call Goldfeder’s office at 718-945-9550 for additional information or help in dealing with foreclosure prevention.
Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014 | 3
Topless Is Another Word For Art Duo Transforms Office Space
Brent Birnbaum and Jenni Crain stand outside the transformed office, now an art exhibit.
By Bianca Fortis Rockaway artist Brent Birnbaum had been mulling over the idea of opening an art gallery since he moved to the peninsula last spring. He thought opening the space in an abandoned storefront could be a creative way to offer a “different type of relief” for local residents. “I wanted to do what I could for the community to bring my knowledge as someone who’s been in that scene for a decade,” Birnbaum, 36, said. “It’s a resource that I could share with the community.” Birnbaum joined forces in
April with another New York City artist, Jenni Crain, to open “Topless,” a small gallery on Rockaway Beach Boulevard and Beach 91st Street. The name — “Topless” — was chosen to be provocative and tongue-in-cheek. “I wanted to signify that our gallery is different. Our rules are different,” Birnbaum said. “I wanted to be a little humorous and I wanted something that nobody will forget. If there’s a little controversy, that’s good. The point of a gallery is to stir up conversations.” Crain, 23, said the building that houses the gallery was built in 1912 and originally housed a
Photos by Toples
Walk through the old office and come upon surprising art.
law library and attorneys lived in the upstairs apartments. Later, the building had been occupied by various professionals including some elected officials. And then Sandy happened and the building sat vacant. Birnbaum and Crain had to clear debris and renovate it to propel its transformation into a gallery. Although the water line from the flood is still visible along the walls inside, sunlight now streams in through large glass windows into the space, onto the artwork as well as the gallery’s white walls and original brick flooring. “We’re not trying to move a
Chelsea gallery into this white box,” Crain said. “It’s important for us to keep the soul of the building.” Crain explained “Topless” is different from some Manhattan and Brooklyn galleries, which may tend to emphasize commercialism and selling artwork. This gallery is also something of an experimental, alternative art space. “We just like having the opportunity to pursue a creative project, to bring people together, to expose people to the Rockaways,” Crain said. Both Crain and Birnbaum said they are overwhelmed by the support of the local community, a fac-
tor Crain said is actually a significant difference between operating a gallery in Rockaway and somewhere like Chelsea. “Topless” will feature new artists every three weeks during the summer. The current show, “Party is Over” runs through July 4 and features three Brooklynbased artists, Caroline Wells Chandler, Cindy Ji Hye Kim and Andy Cross. It opened Saturday, June 14th and the opening reception was attended by about 100 people, Crain said. Crain and Baumbaum chose these specific artists — all painters who approach the medium in an unorthodox way — because they “gelled together,” Birnbaum explained. “Party is Over” is also the name of a video installation by Kim. Crain said the gallery will close at the end of the summer, but the duo plans to return next year, most likely in a new space. “Our lifestyle will be a bit nomadic,” she said. “But I’m definitely going to shed a few tears at the end of the summer because we couldn’t have asked for a better space.” The next opening reception will take place on July 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. The gallery, located at 9020 Rockaway Beach Blvd., is open on Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 8 p.m. It is also open by appointment. For more information, visit rockawaytopless.com
Dylan Smith Paddle Out Now one of the great Rockaway traditions, hundreds gathered on the shore while dozens paddled out on surfboards on Monday to remember Dylan Smith, the young hero who died shortly after saving neighbors the night Sandy struck.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY BRUNCH Served with a Bloody Mary, Screwdriver or Mimosa Tim Smith, Dylan’s father, leads the paddle out.
Photos by Pete Brady
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4 | Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014
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Rockaway! Meets the Big Time Art Show And More At Fort Tilden
Photos courtesy of MoMA PS1
The chapel at Fort Tilden will be turned into an audio art installation.
By Bianca Fortis Rockaway gets to be a brand new canvas.Sunday marks the arrival of Rockaway! an arts festival sure to attract visitors from around the world. Rockaway! — exclamation point and all – comes via an unprecedented collaboration. The Rockaway Artists Alliance, MoMA PS1, the National Park Service, the Honolulu Biennial and the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC) joined together to launch the summertime festival. “These are all groups that are really interested in supporting the Rockaways,” Jackie Snyder, the executive director of the JBRPC, said. “They’re all working to support the communities out there, working to improve public park lands and make it a destination for other New Yorkers who maybe don’t know how spectacular the Rockaways are.” Rockaway! will feature artists both
international and local, including rock star Patti Smith, who helped developed the idea for the show, alongside Rockaway resident Klaus Biesenbach, the director of MoMA PS1 and a Rockaway resident, himself. Smith’s work in the show will include an outdoor installation, titled “The Resilience of the Dreamer.” Inside a rundown abandoned building she will install a four-post bed and linens. The bed will deteriorate over time, a representation of the fortitude of Rockaway and its relationship with the elements. Smith’s work will also include an exhibition of photographs of objects that held significance for their well-known owners: Virginia Woolf’s bed and Frida Kahlo’s corset are among the photos. Within the military chapel at Fort Tilden will be a sound installation from the MoMA collection, “The Forty Piece Motet” by Janet Cardiff,” which was previously on display at the Cloisters.
A couple of Rockaway people, Klaus Biesenbach and Patti Smith, have been dreaming up Rockaway! for months.
There will be a third solo project, by the Argentinian artist Adrian Villar Rojas. Throughout Fort Tilden, the artists will have on display small sculptures inspired by birds nests created by Argentinian birds called “horneros.” The Rockaway Beach Surf Club, on Beach 87th Street, will host a group exhibition of local and international artists whose work is beach-inspired and surf-related. The Surf Club, which was recently restored, operated as a relief center immediately after Hurricane Sandy. The show will support the reopening of Fort Tilden and other post-Sandy recovery efforts. It’s also a way to introduce Rockaway to individuals from outside of the peninsula and allow them to experience the incredible view at the Harris battery, Snyder said. “We’re interested in getting people from outside of the community who may or may not go the Rockaways or
with any frequency and give them a reason to go out,” she said. “People who aren’t so familiar with it can see what a great place it is, as well as support the economy and help Rockaway do great things.” The exhibit, which is free, begins June 29 and will run until September 1. Schedule of events for Sunday, June 29 Noon - 8 p.m.: Exhibitions on view at Fort Tilden Family-friend activities 7 p.m.: Spoken word performance by Patti Smith Poetry reading by James Franco 8 p.m. - midnight: After party at Rockaway Beach Surf Club
Cowabunga! Rockstock Surf Festival Is Saturday By Bianca Fortis It’s a Rockaway thing.And a New York thing. Rain or shine, the eighth annual Rockstock and Barrel Festival, a surfing celebration, takes place Saturday, June 28.The fun kicks off at 10 a.m. at Beach 90th street, The first Rockstock took place in 2006 and was the brainchild of Steve Stathis, of Boarders Surf Shop, Jimmy Dowd of St. James Clothing, and Walker Hornung of Invisible Sun Book Agency and Into the Whip Records. The “beginning of the summer” party, as Stathis refers to it, will feature a surfing competition, live music, a skate competition, food, games and vendors. “People describe it as a California scene in New York,” Stathis said. “I describe it as a New York scene in New York. It’s our venue, we surf, we have summer,” he continued. “I don’t really think it’s a California thing, it’s a New
Photo courtesy of Jimmy Dowd
Want to catch some wave action? Check out Rock Stock and Barrels.
York scene.” According to the website, “This year, in particular, celebrates the recovery of a community that stayed together, prayed together and rebuilt together after Superstorm Sandy.” The mission of the event, according to the site, is to be a launchpad for
Rockaway.Proceeds from the event will go to the non-for profit Rockaway Beach Surf Club. Those funds will be used to further develop the skatepark, build a new skatepark in Jacob Riis park, create a free surf camp for inner-city children, design and build a stage that will be used for the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance,
beautify Rockaway Beach and give back to the community in other ways, according to the site. In past years, bands set up on the boardwalk. Stathis said this is the first year the event will feature dedicated stages for the 17 different musical acts that will perform. Opening up the on the main stage is Rockaway native Matthew Kiss, who plays at 11 a.m.Music on the second stage will begin at 10:30 a.m.Last year the event saw 8,000 people in attendance. Stathis said the yearly crowd comes from around the city, not just from Rockaway. “Now they look forward to it,” he said. “They call up the shop and say, ‘When are you having that party? When’s the party on the beach?’ It’s a great opportunity to go out surfing and listen to music while you’re out there.” For more information about Rockstock and Barrel, visit rockstocknyc.com Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014 | 5
Tubular Views
A Surf Intro
dangerous water conditions be- that community. cause of the lack of ocean knowl--Surfenomics will be a sepaIn this column I will be writing edge by the Parks Department. rate article where I will point out about many surf and community --I will also be explaining what the benefits that surf breaks bring related issues around our beloved beach that are current and also po- the surfing rules are so hopefully to communities. There is a for and out-of-towners or DFD’s (down for against that many don’t consider tential future issues. the day) will hopefully read this col- and I hope to lay bare these issues. --It won’t be a bitch fest but I umn and get it right and start being --Surfing is called many things, do want to discuss with the com- polite to the locals. some call it an art form, like dancmunity what we see as OUR qual--In one column I will explain ing on a wave, some simply call it ity of life issues and not the government’s concept of this, such as surfing maneuvers so that all the a sport. Captain Goodvibes surfings beach access to the ocean waters people who enjoy the beach and patron saint once said about surfwatch the surfers will know what ing “a combination of water torpast 6pm. the technical terms are that surfers ture and simulated womb regression practiced by masochists and --I also strongly encourage you are performing. misfits”. But to many of us surfers all to write in and connect with us --Another topic to be discussed who have been hooked since birth explaining some of the issues you is the lack of infrastructure here or even those that started later, we see and your solutions. and how this is a main reason that know it as a “way of life”. As such --Some of the topics I intend to many extremely large surfing con- we are passionate and work tocover are crowd issues and why this tests have gone to Long Beach, giv- wards improving the environment is such a problem, not only surfing ing that city boat loads of money all around us, including the ocean. wise but also people swimming in and attention that can only help By Alex Karinsky
HOLLYWOOD on the BOARDWALK (EMPIRE)
Photos by Kevin Boyle
Too bad the folks from Boardwalk Empire aren’t in charge of the boardwalk reconstruction. They put hotels and stores and arcades up in no time. This whole stretch of seaside attractions is around Beach 35th Street.
Yoga on the Beach Beach 108th Street Boardwalk at 8 a.m. through Sept. 6 Parks presents yoga on the beach with Helen Kilgallen from Elaine’s Dance School in this beginner hatha yoga class. Bring mat, large towel or blanket.
6 | Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014
-- I’ve been quoted in some surf movies and magazines that New York City is the cultural capital of the world, it’s only fitting that it too includes surfing and beach culture to its long list. --Rockaway is the diamond in the rough and what a gem she is. So many people have flocked to these shores to start their life here because of the beach and surfing, I am so stoked that the Rockaway Times is giving us a voice where we can discuss many things related to the beach and our way of life. --Oh…and jetties :)
Alex is Manhattan born and raised in Sydney, Australia at the famous Bondi Beach. Alex moved back to NYC in 1990 and set up home in Rockaway 2001 with his wife and 2 surf groms.
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Borough Leaders Celebrate City Budget Victories By Phil Corso The city should not have any trouble adopting its budget for Fiscal Year 2015 on Tuesday. Queens lawmakers celebrated the early budget agreement along with officials throughout the city, championing funding for key topics like the Department of Correction and Superstorm Sandy relief. Mayor Bill de Blasio boasted the agreement as one of the earliest in history, settling a $75 billion budget he said was in line with his progressive agenda. “A budget agreement is where rhetoric meets the road – and we’ve delivered a fiscally responsible, progressive and honest budget that will have an enormous impact on New Yorkers across the five boroughs, while protecting our city’s fiscal health,” de Blasio said in a statement. “This is one of the earliest agreements in recent history – a result of the productive dynamic we’ve developed with the Council that ends the cynical budget dance and delivers results for New Yorkers.” The term, “budget dance” has been the buzzword every budget season in the city for years and lawmakers largely lauded de Blasio for keeping this year’s discussion civil. City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Maspeth) said she was proud to see the agreement usher in some of the key issues she helped fight for this year. “After years of counterproductive
Photo courtesy NYC Mayor's Office
Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito (c.) Mayor Bill de blasio celebrates an early, balanced budget in the company of City Council officials.
‘budget dances’ under the previous administration, our city has produced a budget deal that reflects the priorities of everyday New Yorkers,” Crowley said. “I am proud to have worked with my colleagues in the Council on a historic budget that is early and addresses public safety, employment opportunities, education, health and infrastructure in meaningful and responsible ways.” Crowley, who chairs the Council’s Committee on Fire and Criminal Justice Services, said one of her highlight concessions in the budget came in the form of de Blasio’s commitment of $32.5 million to fund the city Department of
Correction to fight violence and mental illness on Rikers Island. The lawmaker said she was a staunch advocate for reform in the system since the recent deaths of mentally ill inmates at Rikers over the past year. “With skyrocketing overtime costs and a growing mentally ill inmate population that requires very specialized care, we still have a lot of work ahead of us,” she said. “But we have undoubtedly taken a huge step in moving DOC and our city back in the right direction.” Lawmakers celebrated budgetary victories like $6.2 million to hire 200 Police Department administrative aides,
extending free school lunch to middle schoolers throughout the city, $5 million to increase city Parks maintenance and more. City Public Advocate Letitia James said she had been one of the leaders in the battle cry to bring universal school lunch to the city in order to address nutrition and classroom performance. The program will begin in September, which she said was a step in the right direction for city schools. “In February, I supported a campaign to bring universal school lunch to New York City, because I know that students who aren’t battling hunger are more attentive and perform better in their classes,” she said. “Thanks to the hard work of the Lunch 4 Learning campaign, today we take the first step towards universal school lunch. Some lawmakers expressed concern over the budget when it was proposed last month, arguing it did not do enough for Superstorm Sandy victims. City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), chairman of the Council’s Committee on Veterans, said the mayor needed to step up to the plate for storm relief. “The needs and concerns of veterans must be a priority for this administration,” he said. “The executive budget proposed last week ignores the Council’s request to increase funding for the mayor’s Office of Veteran Affairs, as well as many other desperately needed veterans’ initiatives.”
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The ShoreLine • A Little of This And That The Rockaway Times will have a weekly feature called Back In The Day. Anita Ruderman, who many know through Hot Yoga, leads us off this week. Send us your classic photos that capture a long-ago time. Beehive hairdos, men’s full one piece bathing suits, now out-of-style mustaches, regrettable prom outfits, something that brings us back. If Rockaway is in the background so much the better. Send to news@rockawaytimes.com * * * Speaking of yesteryears, Emil Lucev, Rockaway’s unofficial historian who wrote the popular Historical Views column, called last week to wish us well. Emil lives upstate now, in an undisclosed location, and resists the whole email thing. His daughter, Katie, promises to send us some of Emil’s treasures. Emil, who just turned 80, is missed by many. * * * Construction continues on a new hotel on Beach 43rd Street. There is a sign posted that says it will be a La Quinta Inn, a hotel chain with more that 800 hotels in the US and Canada. Although there was some community opposition a couple years back be-
cause of understandable fear that it might be “one of those hotels,” the plans are quite impressive. It is supposed to have 100 rooms, a business center, restaurant, and fitness center. Visitors can get there by subway (from JFK) and walk to the ocean. With Rockaway starving for a place for people to stay, it might just be a real asset. A spokesman says they’re shooting for it to be fully operational in October or November, 2014. * * * Not too long ago Rockaway beaches were described by a local observer this way: “If you see little kids in underpants, it’s a Puerto Rican beach, if you see grown men in their underpants, it’s the Russian beach.” With people coming from all over the city, and the world, now it’s harder to pigeonhole particular beaches. * * * The Far Rockaway High School Class of 1965 is gearing up for its 50th Reunion celebration on April 18, 2015. Go to farrockaway.com for more information. * * * You never know. Andrew Cuomo is governor because of Elliot Spitzer; Bill
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de Blasio is mayor because of Anthony Weiner. * * * Battle Rock, a sanctioned Muay Thai bout, was such a huge success in May, they’re doing it again this Saturday, June 28 at Beach Channel High School. The bouts start at 7 pm. Brandon Dougherty faces off with Daryl Garnier in the main event. It’s action packed fun! We hope this becomes a regular series. Do check it out! Tickets in advance can be bought at battlerock.com * * * We’re working on our headline for next week: The Rockaway Times: Publishing Continuously Since June 26, 2014. * * * We caught some advertisers by surprise with our opening and now can’t wait to see their ads next week (like Susan Lavin’s and Neponsit Realty’s!) * * * The Rockaway vibe travels. Thanks to some creative locals, the Rockaway Mermaid Brigade received 1st prize for best motorized float in the Coney Island classic parade. * * *
Wondering what happened to the St. Francis Summer Classic? Although the Women’s and Men’s Open have just started ,the youngsters get going July 7th. There were some worries that the storied basketball league wouldn’t happen at all which would have been a been a terrible blow to summer fun for so many. * * * Rockaway! The art spectacle at Fort Tilden will be something of a minor miracle. Lots of groups have been frustrated with the National Parks Service through the years. This time, NPS seems ready and engaged (Gateway is called a “recreation” area, after all). Resident and super fan of all things Rockaway, Klaus Biesenbach, is making magic happen with Patti Smith, James Franco and other artists. It’s sure to be an event unlike any other. Hats off to all – including the Jamaica Bay Rockaway Parks Conservancy which assumed the most important role: forking over the necessary funds to make it happen. The Conservancy hasn’t gotten the ink it deserves but, watch out, this group is walking the walk. They said they wanted to promote Jamaica Bay and its environs, well, this is a helluva start.
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Battle Rock Returns to Rockaway Back By Popular Demand
By Bianca Fortis Following a knockout performance in May Battle Rock is back. Battle Rock, a showcase of amateur Muay Thai fighting, will return this week to again entertain spectators, just a little more than a month after its inaugural event. The first Battle Rock was held last month and drew a crowd of about 500 people, according to Chris Romulo, owner of Crom Martial Training, the fitness group presenting the event. He expects to have an even bigger audience on Saturday. The national sport of Thailand, Muay Thai fighting is a combat sport similar to kickboxing, but allows participants to kick and throw punches, as well as use their knees and elbows to fight. Fighters, both men and women, who range in age from 16 to 35, will come from around the tri-state region to compete. And there’s local flavor, too, as a couple of Rockaway participants will compete. A representative from the Thai Consulate will attend in order to present an award to two fighters from the last Battle Rock event for “most exciting fight of the night,” Romulo said. Romulo, 39, said Crom Martial Training has a goal of promoting the art of Muay Thai, so he hopes the event will attract a large audience of
Photo courtesy of Sara Romulo
Thai exhibitions have also been seen on the boardwalk in front of great crowds.
people willing to come out and experience what the sport is about. “We want them to see that it’s not just about fighting, but there’s also a great tradition and respectfulness behind the art of Muay Thai,” he said. Romulo, who teaches the martial art and has fought in Muay Thai bouts, said what draws him to the sport is its straightforwardness. While skill can
be a factor in who wins a fight, the physical shape of the contestants is very important, he said. “To the general fan, it may look like something fancy,” he said about the sport. “But it really just comes down to who’s the person in better shape, who prepares more. I’ve worked out my whole life, and training in this style has always been challenging.”
Romulo said Battle Rock is also an opportunity to share Asian traditions, including wai khru, a ceremonial dance that takes place before a bout, in which fighters show respect for their trainers, family and other supporters. Romulo said some of the more experienced fighters will likely perform this dance during Battle Rock. The event will also feature local vendors, including Sweet Serenity Cupcakes, Thai Kitchen By the Sea and DiCosmo’s Italian Ice, who will sell food. The Crom Martial Training fitness center had made national headlines when it was completely destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. But Romulo said the business had worked hard to rebuild and eventually moved into a spot just across the street from their old building. Aside from Muay Thai, the gym also offers Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, CrossFit and boxing classes for children and adults. “We’re definitely back,” he said. Battle Rock II will take place on Saturday, June 28 at Beach Channel High School. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Front-row seats cost $60, rows 2 through 4 cost $50 and general admission costs $35. Tickets are available for purchase at Battle-Rock.com
Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014 | 9
The Rockaway Times would love to hear from you!
Please Revive Rockaway Dear Voice of the People:
I read a news article today regarding a new beach in Manhattan. Is that where the extra money goes when you don't have full lifeguard staffing in Rockaway Beach, Queens? This past Friday, 29 beaches in Rockaway were open to swimming. 111 beaches were closed for some pathetic and dishonest excuse. Please Mr. Mayor, investigate and audit the City Parks Department. Why take the Queens Rockaway Ferry or go to a Rockaway restaurant or shop if our beaches are closed to swimming? Are we being set up to fail? Thirty-two days since Memorial Day Weekend without a full staff of lifeguards? This is unacceptable. Our beach is our protection, recreation and a major source of revenue. Please help us. Philip McManus Rockaway Park
Rockaway Ferry Dear Editor:
The answer to "Queens Leaders Rally to Save Rockaway Ferry" (June 19) will be found buried in the soon to be adopted new municipal budget for the period July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015. Will additional funding be included in this budget to support ferry service for the Rockaways? The proof will be in the fine print. Ferry services are the wave of the future. Our waterways are an underutilized natural asset which can offer significant transportation alternatives for thousands of New Yorkers. Most of our existing public transportation and roadways are already operating at or above capacity. New ferry services can be implemented far more quickly than construction of new subway, commuter rail or highways. Consider the idea for resumption of service on the old White Pot Junction Long Island Rail Road branch abandoned in the early 1960's. This and others can take years or even decades until completion of environmental reviews, planning, design, engineering, real estate acquisition, permits, procurements and actual construction before reaching beneficial use. Completing all of the above along with finding
funding for ferry boats, docks and parking with costs in the millions may be easier than finding the billions of dollars necessary for construction of new or extended subway, commuter rail or highways. Utilization of ferry boats equipped with modern fuel efficient engines can make a positive contribution to air quality. In April 1967, the old Jersey Central Rail Road ended ferry service between Liberty Street and Pavonia, New Jersey. Later that year, in November 1967, the old Erie Lackawana Rail Road suspended ferry service between Barclay Street and Hoboken. Fast forward to today. Thousands of daily commuters use ferries from Hoboken, New Jersey to the World Financial Center in downtown Manhattan. There are also 66,000 daily patrons of the Staten Island Ferry System which connects St. George, Staten Island with the Whitehall Street Ferry Terminal. Unlike the other four boroughs, 500,000 Richmond County residents have no direct subway or commuter rail system linking them with the rest of NYC. Over two years ago, thousands of riders began utilizing the East River ferry connecting various waterfront neighborhoods including Long Island City, East 34th Street, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Wall Street and Governors Island. Residents in Bayside and other northeast Queens neighborhoods are lobbying for new ferry service. Who would not want to enjoy the fresh air and breeze that only waterborne transportation can provide. Riding a ferry can be less stressful than being packed in a subway car like sardines in a can. There are thousands of residents in the Rockaways and adjacent neighborhoods who would welcome the opportunity on a year around basis. Larry Penner Great Neck
How Much Is Enough? Dr. Frame, As you may be aware, the U.S. Department of Agriculture-APHIS-Wildlife Services has begun their sixth year of roundups and killing
10 | Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014
of the resident Canada geese population in New York City. Yesterday, Inwood Park in upper Manhattan became one of their first roundup sites. Wildlife Services has been observed by animal watch groups setting up shop in the past week at the Fountain Avenue Landfill in Brooklyn near Gateway Plaza (Erskine St. exit; Fountain Ave. & Seaview Ave.). Wildlife Services is notorious nationwide for the mass slaughter of America’s wildlife. There are also reports that another cull--the third consecutive slaughter--of the resident geese at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge has been approved by Gateway Superintendent Jennifer Nersesian, and will begin soon. Several National Parks Service employees have confirmed this. Can you please explain why this will transpire? Will Gateway allow the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to exterminate every resident geese from the “Refuge”? How much is enough, enough? And will the slaughter of Jamaica Bay’s Mute swan population by USDA-Wildlife Services (Draft Supplement Environmental Impact Statement-Gull Hazard Reduction Program, JFK) follow soon also, along with the other bird species classified as ”hazards” to airplanes? Coincidental with Gateway’s Lalsienew Management Plan for the twenty-first century, perhaps we can look forward to “future generations’ “ enthused watching of airplanes fly over the refuge, in place of birds. Thank you for your attention to this dire situation.
some local input and direction. Since then a petition has been circulating to make sure that any decision made for this property is decided by the community at large. No back door meetings and hopefully no "divine intervention" from City Hall. Do we really need City Hall calling the shots? It was recently suggested that a "participatory vote" of sorts takes place. I personally think that's the way to go. Real community input perhaps available via a web page, town hall or a simple ballot. Maybe all of the above to insure the voices of the community get heard. Most of the people I have spoken with would like to see something that will benefit everyone. Some have suggested a family entertainment center, some have said a school for the west end kids or perhaps some sort of attraction to help put Rockaway back on the map. Stay tuned! As soon as the petition reaches its goal it will be presented to our elected officials, our local news outlets and the Community Board. Then the fun starts.....Let's make something happen before t h e
Putting Your Best Paper Forward Dear Editor, Congratulations Kevin and Pat on the first issue of The Rockaway Times! I’m looking forward to your usual mix of humorous, informative and hard-hitting articles along with stories on the events and people that make Rockaway the unique place it is. I am especially looking forward to your reporting on the many failures of DOT including their latest boondoggle known as Vision Zero. “Zero Vision” would have been a better name. Instead of lowering the speed limit to 25 MPH and installing speed cameras, why not repair the roads with something other
CO-PUBLISHERS Patricia L. Adams Kevin Boyle EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kevin Boyle EXECUTIVE EDITOR Patricia Adams REPORTERS Bianca Fortis Phil Corso
Jeffrey Kramer Queens
SALES Fred Marino Kathleen Lalsie
Vote On The Neponsit Home Dear Editor: We have all heard of the "Battle of Gettysburg" and the "Battle of the Bulge." Now we have the 'Battle of Neponsit Home." The Neponsit home has sat at the west end of our peninsula rotting since then Mayor Giuliani closed it over 15 years ago. The building was vandalized and destroyed before Sandy got her hands on it. Now that Sandy has put the final nail in the coffin, it’s time for the community to utilize this property to its benefit. A few months back, our State Senator Joe Addabbo asked for
city plays "nanny" and we get spanked. Go Rockaway!!! John P. Larkin
PHOTOGRAPHERS Robert Stridiron Richard York THE
ROCKAWAY TIMES 114-04 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Park, NY 11694 phone • 718-634-3030 | e-mail • news@rockawaytimes.com
THE ROCKAWAY TIMES publishes every Thursday. Ad space reservations by Monday, 12 noon, preceding date of publication. Editorial submission must be made by Monday, 3 P.M., preceding date of publication. All letters to THE ROCKAWAY TIMES should be brief and are subject to editing. Writers should include a full address and home / office telephone number. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without permission of THE ROCKAWAY TIMES. The publisher will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to THE ROCKAWAY TIMES within five days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. THE ROCKAWAY TIMES assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold THE ROCKAWAY TIMES and its employees harmless from all costs, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement.
EDITORIAL It's Time
With so much going on, it’s time for Rockaway to be more than a onehorse town. It’s time for something fresh and free. Welcome to The Rockaway Times. The Rockaway Times is a joint venture between Kevin Boyle and Patricia Adams. Boyle, comes from The Wave where he was an award-winning editor and columnist. Adams is the longtime publisher of The Forum, a much-honored powerhouse newspaper in Howard Beach. This is also a joint venture with YOU. We recognize that we’ll only be as strong as our readers. Your voice, your concerns, your interests will find a home in The Rockaway Times. We’ll look to inform and aim to entertain. We’ve enlisted the services of some homegrown talent who will contribute stories and columns with Rockaway flair and perspective. We’ll be launching an internet radio station and a podcast available on iTunes. Competition is what makes Rockaway go ‘round. We believe there is strength in numbers and in this case, two is better than one. The Rockaway Times will be another advocate for Rockaway, another voice helping Rockaway get the attention of govern-
ment officials. There will be much to cover, much for you to know. New flood maps will soon be adopted by the city. Flood insurance will become a hot topic again as the National Flood Insurance Program seeks reauthorization. New building and zoning codes will address economic development and resiliency. The word resilience means so many things. The Rockaway Times aims to be your source for information and analysis. The future is uncertain yet exciting. We know change is coming. But we should all have a say in that change. If we do our job, Rockaway will be a stronger, more informed, more engaged community. We’re sure to stumble and suffer some growing pains but we can’t worry about that. We’ll just keep at it until we get things right. The Rockaway Times is like Rockaway itself. We’re a little bit of a secret and we’re a bit of an underdog. But, look out, we’ve got great potential. And we’re hoping you help us realize that potential. Opening a new business here demonstrates one indisputable fact: we believe in Rockaway. In this, our inaugural edition, we have one main editorial position we want to make clear: We love Rockaway!
The Rockaway Times Is Born By Kevin Boyle and Patricia Adams The Rockaway Times is born. Patricia Adams, longtime publisher of The Forum in Howard Beach, had been eyeing Rockaway with interest for some time. Adams recognized Rockaway’s growth, its new buzz, and potential. She knew it could use another newspaper. But she knew a Rockaway newspaper needed a Rockaway voice. Enter Kevin Boyle. Adams heard through the publishing grapevine that Boyle was exiting The Wave and got in touch. How about a partnership? Boyle hadn’t planned on starting a new weekly but the chance to team up with an established paper and veteran of the news business was too appealing to turn away from. The idea was a good one, they both agreed, but the nuts and bolts of launching The Rockaway Times before the summer season was fully underway would be (and still is!) a daunting challenge.
Although The Forum could lend its support in printing, design, and distribution, a Rockaway newspaper would need an office, reporters, sales people, columnists and a million other things. And so, the journey started. A tiny but visible office was opened on Beach Channel Drive and Beach 114th Street. Boyle reached out to Fred Marino a retired salesman he knew since the days Boyle operated The Brooklyn Dodger Sport Bar in the late 1980’s. In a reversal of roles, Boyle sold Fred to get back in the sales game. Adams knew a roster of talented reporters and suggested Bianca Fortis as the person to best cover Rockaway. Forum reporters would assist with stories as well. Kathleen Lalsie, an ad rep known all over Rockaway, contacted Boyle through Facebook and offered to help with sales. The team was coming together. A sign went up on the office. Stories were filed; columnists contributed. Local advertisers were willing to give the paper a try – sight unseen! And then we published.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! than bubble gum and install smart traffic lights so we can get where we’re YOU LIKE US going sooner and safer?
YOU LOVE US of luck! YOU HATEBest US Rick Horan TELL US
Write to the Editor at
THE ROCKAWAY TIMES Email news@ rockawaytimes.com Address 114-04 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Park, NY 11694 We welcome letters on any topic of interest. Please limit them to 500 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for length or clarity. Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014 | 11
Parents Invite All To Family Community Day
Family Community Day is sure to be fun for all.
By Bianca Fortis Looking for something to do Saturday, June 28? The Parents Association of PS/MS 183 is expecting a record turnout for its annual Family Community Day, but the group is still in need of donations to ensure the event is a success. In past years the day has featured bounce houses, face painting, carnival games, individuals dressed as characters, arts and crafts and a variety of food. The first Family Community Day began in 2011 as a means of entertainment for the school community. “The kids needed something,” Della Jackson, the Parents Association treasurer, said. “They deserved it. They need
12 | Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014
Back In The Day
Anita Ruderman hasn’t changed a bit since she pushed a stroller along the boardwalk in 1958.
Photo courtesy of Lisa Johnson Cooper
something to do in this community.” Most of the funds have traditionally come from a photo day fundraiser, but there are fewer kids in the school now than in past years because families have chosen to relocate, Jackson said. And with the community still recovering from a weakened economy and working against budget shortfalls, funds for this year’s Family Community Day have come up short. “We were blessed enough to be able to do this for the children,” Jackson said. “We’re just struggling this year to make ends meet.” Jackson said the group wants to make this year’s event “bigger and better.” But they can’t do that without help from the community. About 300 people attended last year, costing the Parents Association
about $4,000. Lisa Johnson-Cooper, the Parent Teacher Association president, said she expects 400 or 500 people in attendance this year because a student talent show is taking place at the school on the same day. All are welcome to attend. “We can’t imagine saying to anyone, ‘No, you don’t go to school here -- you can’t eat a hamburger,’” Johnson-Cooper said. Donations will be welcome at the school until Friday, June 27, the day before the event, she said. The Association is in need of food, water, juice, napkins, plates, cups and other supplies. The Association also has a gofundme.
com campaign set up as well that allows them to receive monetary donations online at www.gofundme.com/87xmcs. Johnson-Cooper and Jackson also expressed gratitude toward area businesses, including local banks, Checker’s and Dunkin’ Donuts who have contributed to the event. “We are getting some help this year, so we can relax a little bit, insteading of standing on the corner trying to sell cupcakes or lemonade to scrape together the money,” Jackson said. The event will take place on June 28 at 11 a.m. The first 50 children to arrive will receive a free T-shirt. PS/MS 183 is located at 245 Beach 79th Street.
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No Yoga Experience? Perfect! Never took a hot yoga class? We want you!
Leron holds the big catch. The photo was snapped by an employee at Big Ron’s.
By Matt Whalen Ahoy! Rockaway Times readers! Jamaica Bay: Tom's Wave service station on Beach Channel Drive in Rockaway Park told us about some very BIG fluke that were caught in Jamaica bay recently. Some fish weighed in at 11 pounds (yes, 11 pounds)! Tom also said that he has heard of some striped bass and blue fish around the Rockaway Inlet area but, has not seen anything solid yet. East end: Pauly T. was drifting his boat for fluke on Sunday at the Wantagh bridges, as well as Meadowbrook bridges #1, #2 and “big M" and caught a nice-sized 4 pound fluke, and then another 3-3/4 pound fluke as well. Paul was also fishing the smaller outflow marsh drainage channels with good results. Reynold's channel: (Beach 9th Street to Lido Golf course). Bernie Matzen of Oceanside checked in with us and reported that there are many fluke hitting the
lines in Reynold's channel (especially off of the Lido golf course) but, the fluke are on the short side (under the legal 18"). Bernie said that there are larger fluke on the outside (ocean) at the wrecks, and the Atlantic Beach reef. Speaking of the "outside" Bern also told us that he had heard of some striped bass that were being taken (trolling umbrella rigs and bunker spoons in 40 to 60 feet of water) off the beach between Deb's Inlet and Jones Inlet. Big Ron's Bait and Tackle in Howard Beach tells us of some really BIG news! Last weekend Leron from Queens and his son Jay were fishing off Rockaway reef last weekend. The father and son team played for keeps as they came up with some really BIG striped bass ! The two anglers landed TWO striped bass that weighed in at 44 and 45 POUNDS...YIKES ! The bass were landed using bunker. Here is a picture of the fish taken in front of the "Capt. Mike" out of Howard Beach.
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Local Realtor Made History; Sees Bright Future
By Bianca Fortis While many individuals struggle to decide what they want to do with their lives, Lisa Jackson knew from the age of 15 that she wanted to be a real estate agent and own her own agency. The Canarsie native, 43, has gone on to set real estate records for properties she has sold in Rockaway. In 2011, she sold the most expensive property in Queens for the year, a $3.2 million home located on Beach 139th Street.The following year, she was the listing agent for the most expensive property to sell in all of Queens history, a $5.1 million home in Neponsit. “I love everything about it,” she said about working in real estate. “I love seeing the different style houses, I love working with customers, I love getting to know people.” Jackson, the owner of Rockaway Properties, had secured her real estate license by the age of 25. She initially spent about 10 years working on Wall Street as an office manager for an insurance company. In 2007 she moved with her husband from Staten Island to the peninsula, where his grandparents were already living. In 2010 she started working in real estate part-time; that evolved into what is now Rockaway Properties and has a staff size of seven. Jackson said the real estate market has remained consistent during her time in the community; only Hurricane Sandy really had an effect on the area.When local schools closed, Jackson moved with her family to the Carroll Gardens neighborhood in Brooklyn. She’d also thought that local property values had tanked.
But six weeks later, she was receiving calls from would-be investors looking to flip distressed properties. While some investors came from other boroughs, many came from within Rockaway itself, she said. Traditionally Rockaway Properties has sold homes located only on the peninsula — primarily waterfront homes — but the group is branching out to properties in Howard Beach as well, Jackson said. The agency’s website, rockaprop.com, shows listings for land, houses, co-ops and condominiums, ranging in price from below $100,000 to well into the millions. There isn’t any one type of home that all would-be buyers look for, Jackson said. Some want fixer-uppers so they can do their own renovation work. Others just want to buy land on which to build. And others, who don’t want to do any work, want a home that’s ready to live in. But there is one feature that everyone wants: “The closer to the beach, the better,” Jackson said. She said the rumors that Rockaway is on its way to a revival seem to be true. Change is indeed happening, she said. The peninsula, particularly the area around Beach 90th Street, is becoming trendy, with Downtown Brooklynites investing in property and opening new restaurants.“They’re revamping the whole neighborhood,” Jackson said. “Which is fantastic.” And for those house-hunting individuals who maybe don’t have Rockaway in mind for their new home? “I would want them to come here and just spend one day with me and I’ll show them around,” she said. “I’m pretty much going to guarantee that they’re going to fall in love.” Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014 | 15
JDRF Advances Diabetes Research Through Local Efforts
Joe DeCandia (left) and Joe Mure seem to have several (thousand) people following in their footsteps and what they hope will lead to a
By Debbie Cohen For the sixth year in a row, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) took its fight against juvenile diabetes to Howard Beach and raised nearly $75,000 in the process. Now, the group said it would return the favor.
The May 31 6th JDRF Howard Beach Walk to Cure Diabetes drew hundreds in the foundation’s ongoing efforts to combat diabetes, organizers said. The group, established in 1970, said it would use the money to help fund research, according to Jessica Burns, development coordinator at
File Photos
JDRF. A letter was sent out the beginning of June thanking all participants in the Howard Beach Walk and said JDRF agreed to sponsor more than $530 million in research around the world because of the generosity of local supporters.
Do you recognize any of these symptoms? • Extreme thirst • Frequent urination • Drowsiness, lethargy • Sugar in urine • Sudden vision changes • Increased appetite • Sudden weight loss • Fruity, sweet, or wine-like odor on breath • Heavy, labored breathing • Stupor, unconsciousness These symptoms may come on suddenly. Consult a physician at once.
16 | Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014
Burns announced two additional walks organized for the same cause, including a Queens Walk on Oct. 5 in Flushing Meadows Park and another on the same day in Staten Island starting at 8:30 a.m. Juvenile diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone needed to get energy from food, according to JDRF. Also known as type-1 diabetes, the disease affects both children and adults and lasts a lifetime. Joe DeCandia, a JDRF New York chapter board member, said he kept up the fight for his 14-year-old son, who has type1 diabetes. DeCandia referred to the ongoing fight as a worthwhile cause that he hopes can help contribute to finding a cure. “The Howard Beach walk netted approximately $500,000 over the past six years,” DeCandia said. “The money raised at these events goes to facilities that help children, like St. Jude and the Ronald McDonald House. This Queens walk is a main event to raise money locally and my wife and I are thrilled to participate. I believe in our lifetime we will see a cure for this.” Joe Mure, another board member, said each of these local events came at no expense to the organization and funneled all money directly to research efforts. “None of these events would be possible if it wasn’t for people in our neighborhood,” Mure said. “Research is moving rapidly now over the last few years because of money raised due to successful neighborhood events.” According to Mure, there are two exciting types of treat-
ments that are being spearheaded by JDRF and are currently in the trial stage. One is the artificial pancreas, where a small machine attaches to the body with an insulin pump and can stay on 24 hours a day, he said. The other is called encapsulation, which is an implantable device that provides beta cell replacement and restores insulin independence without the need for intensive immune suppression, Mure said. “Pancreatic transplants are rare and some are not successful,” Mure said. “The insulin used today is much better than 20 years ago, but it does not work fast enough and scientists are working on ways to speed up absorption.” Restoration is a biologic cure for type-1 diabetes that JDRF is still working on, according to the group’s fact sheet. With this treatment, the body’s cell function is restored and the autoimmune attack is halted. Another research plan JDRF is looking into is called smart insulin, which circulates in the bloodstream and turns on when needed, the sheet said. Since JDRF’s founding in 1970, its cumulative research funding totaled over $1.8 billion, which has gone on to fund over 50 human clinical trials. Mure said another huge fundraiser was scheduled for Dec. 6 at 6 p,m. The event, dubbed “Little North Pole,” first started 19 years ago at 14403 Neponsit Ave. in Rockaway and has not stopped since. “The yearly fundraiser draws thousands of people and a huge amount is raised for JDRF. It’s really a fun, seasonal event,” Mure said. “I am very excited about all the advancements, and eventually, a cure for type-1 diabetes.”
The Beef Chip with Team Cyclops
I Crush Therefore I Am You might think I’m just a bartender. But what I like to pour is wisdom. Things are not as they appear. For anyone that has been living under a rock the last few years, the NYC Dept of Health has a success story rivaled only by the Dapper Don himself. I use the Don reference loosely, as they both have similarly amassed fortunes by the practice of promising protection for a small ongoing fee. They are both guilty of intimidation and bullying, this practice is also commonly known as extortion. However, and rightly so, the Don served time in Federal Prison for this illicit and illegal activity. And while NYC reels in its catch off the backs of hard working small business owners with zero ramifications, legally, the general public remains grossly misinformed on what an inspection really has to do with your health. Like a swarm of bees, every day inspectors are sent on patrol to bring home the honey to the hive. And while the new Queen Bee’s campaign strategy promised overhauls to his predecessors jaded letter grade system, we have yet to see any major changes to the status quo. What we have seen is clear evidence that a quota does exist on every inspection. The de Blasio administration “projects” only $30 million in fines from restaurants in this year’s preliminary budget, down from 34.1 million to date so far this year. Wait Beefchip, what does this all mean? I’m glad you asked. In a joint press conference City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Dept of Health Commish Mary Basset announced that restaurants would not be fined for structural blemishes, such as cracked tiles and ceilings or leaky faucets. The mere fact that any monetary revenue was disclosed at all is insulting, and a clear admission that the city targets restaurants In the name of “health” to close budget gaps. Well, one good source, Big Daddy, whispered that this concession of reduced fines is a “bait and switch”, a maneuver that will require restaurants to provide paid sick leave for employees, most likely written into law at 11:59 PM and covered under some facade story like who Dante and Chiara went clubbing with the night before.
This, of course, is only my opinion. But we are familiar with the NYC government’s timing of a story. And as an investor and betting man, I wouldn’t short the Dept. Of Health’s stock just yet. And here’s why. It was recently acknowledged by NY Post critic Steve Couzzo that the Dept. of of Health sends 19 times more inspectors to restaurants than the dept of buildings sends out to construction sites. And while public sentiment has been manipulated into thinking a ‘B’ letter grade will kill you, your precious life is in far graver danger when you happen to walk by a crane on your way to work. Violations such as “cold food held over 41 degrees” or “hot food held under 141 degrees” defy all logic and all reason. It takes time to bring food to temperature Mr. Inspector, this is a craftsman’s sport of which you wouldn’t make the practice squad. Now I know what you’re thinking as your reading this. But Beef Chip, what about the ‘C’ grade I saw in such and such restaurant. They sure are dirty, right Beef? WRONG. While you may have a kitchen premises that the Pope would be proud to sit on, small non-health, non-hygiene violations quickly make your A into a B and further on into a C. While we all have seen some filthy restaurants in our time, it only proves my point of a broken system, as they proudly display their ‘A’ in a plexiglass encasement from which you place your order. It’s time to wake up people. You should be irate, you should be mad, you should be angry. Your city government is extorting it’s job creators and dreamers, legally. “Oh Beefstick, you don’t know anything.” No I know, and I now I know you know. PS Mr. Mayor, I know your progressive agenda doesn’t have room for people who take a shot in this life, but try to remember the innovators of the largest industry at 11:58 PM on the day you sign the sick leave law. Believe it or not some establishments scrape nickels to make ends meet, even before the legalized mafia that is NYC Health Dept takes their taste. I’m making you an offer you can’t refuse Bill, act now or “we’re going to the mattresses.” Not to worry, the fishes will be below 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014 | 17
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Broad Channel • Between the Bridges
Three Burning Questions By Peter Mahon Congratulations! You have picked up a copy a The Rockaway Times and you are reading it - great start! You are reading this column so you have obviously turned a few pages and are (hopefully) enjoying the content...so far so good! That brings you to "Broad Channel Between the Bridges by Peter Mahon". Right about now I know there are three questions that have you scratching your head that you would like to see answered. So let's use this first column and get those out of the way before we go any further.
1
Who are you?...Originally from Woodside, I have resided in Broad Channel since 1994 and presently live on W12thRd with my lovely wife Graceanne and my 2 daughters, Amy and Victoria. Our neighbors, Sophie and Lenny DeVirgilio and their daughter Louise, also live with us until their house, which was destroyed by Sandy, is rebuilt. Yep...they are waiting for "Build It Back" to, well, build it back! Our household also includes a dog, 4 cats, 2 guinea pigs, 2 turtles and a rabbit... all rescues! Our neighbors refer to our home as the "Hotel California" but that's
20 | Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014
a story for another time. 64 years young with a body held together with duct tape and a mind (according to my wife) of a teenager I am presently retired after 2 enlistments with the United States Marine Corps back in the late 60's and early 70's and then 31 years of city service with the N.Y.C. Police Dept.and Dept. of Correction (including a stint with the Dept. of Juvenile Justice), followed up with several years in the private security industry. Hopefully that puts question #1 to rest. Let's move on.
2
How did you wind up writing a column about Broad Channel in The Rockaway Times? For some time now I have shared an "email" relationship with Kevin Boyle as a result of his outstanding coverage of all the post-Sandy issues that have plagued our community. I also thoroughly enjoy Kevin's Boyleing Points column which I am happy to report has, not unlike the Phoenix, risen again right here in The Rockaway Times. Some months back Kevin referred to the weekly obituaries column as the Irish Comics and my 97-year old mother (still alive and going strong in Woodside) was immediately hooked on his column also. Then, a few weeks ago, Kevin told me about
his pending involvement with the publication of our area's newest newspaper, The Rockaway Times, and asked if I would be interested in contributing a "Broad Channel" column. Perhaps it was serendipitous that I received Kevin's email while I was attending our Grand Matriarch's (aka: She Who Must be Obeyed) birthday party in Woodside. At the time Mom had noticed that her favorite column had gone missing and asked me about the status of the "...that young man Kevin who thinks Irish wakes are comical and writes the nutty columns about boiling water...". Her words, not mine. Knowing that she has never met Kevin or saw his picture I asked her why she would describe him as a young man. She looked at me as if had two heads while responding "You're all here for my 97th birthday... if you can't figure that out for yourself then I truly have raised an idiot!" Rightfully chastised, I told Mom about Kevin's offer about this column and she immediately asked me what I would be paid for my efforts. I explained that Kevin had offered "a pat on the back and maybe a T-shirt." She thought about that for about 2 seconds and then offered me the following sage advice. "Go for it...tell him to forget the
pat on the back, it will only go to your head, but make sure you get the T-shirt. If you make an ass out of yourself they can fire your behind right away before you become a total embarrassment to the nice man and you will at least get a T-shirt out of the deal." And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is how I wound up here in The Rockaway Times. Two down... one to go.
3
What will the column be about? Assuming this first column does not "go down in flames" and I am summarily sent packing, t-shirt in hand, Between the Bridges will celebrate the community of Broad Channel. Starting next week you can expect some informative human interest stories which I hope will help strengthen our already strong sense of unique community identity and pride shared by all of us who live in this wonderful island on the bay, a snapshot of life here in Broad Channel, if you will. Now that you know who I am, how I got here and what I will be doing each week, I look forward to meeting you all again next week "Between the Bridges" and we will get this thing started! Comments? rtbetweenthebridges@gmail.com
Judge Declares Mistrial in Smith Case By Phil Corso A federal judge declared a mistrial in a federal corruption case involving state Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Hollis), pushing it back to January. Smith had asked to have start the trial over after new information was brought to the table ealier this month. He was charged along with co-defendant and former Queens Republican vice chairman Vincent Tabone with bribery and corruption in an attempt to have his name appear on the mayoral ballot as a Republican. Former City Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone), who was also part of the elaborate scheme to allegedly get Smith’s name into the mayoral race last year, opted to have his trial continue this week, his lawyer Vinoo Verghese said. Court records showed prosecutors brought new evidence to light earlier this month, including recorded conversations and text messages in Yiddish. The defense attorneys argued the new information was issued too late into the process, making it difficult for them to field an appropriate response when trial time arrived. The attorney representing Tabone filed documents in court saying his opening statement would have been different if he had only known what
Former City Councilman Dan Halloran expects his trial to start this week.
kinds of evidence the prosecution would be including. But Halloran’s lawyer said he did not want to seek a mistrial after waiting more than one year since his April 2013 arrest for his day in court. His court date was scheduled to proceed June 25, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in White Plains. Halloran attempted to delay his initial court date last month on the grounds of insanity, arguing that brain surgery he underwent in 2012 rendered him unable to comprehend the nature of his actions. Judge Kenneth Karas dismissed that motion earlier this month.
Malcolm Smith faces a mistrial after being accused of scheming with other Queens elected officials to get his name onto the mayoral ballot as a Republican.
Prosecutors accused Halloran of helping Smith handle nearly $500,000 in taxpayer dollars to fund a fake real estate project in order to fund his political campaign. Halloran reportedly received at least $60,000 in exchange for his assistance, documents said. Smith was looking for GOP support to get him on the mayoral ballot as a Republican, prosecutors said. Tabone has been charged with receiving roughly $25,000 in helping Smith in his efforts of gaining the GOP line on
Former GOP Vice Chair Vincent Tabone is charged as part of the elaborate corruption and bribery scandal to get Malcolm Smith’s name onto the mayoral ballot as a Republican.
the mayoral ballot, documents showed Former Republican county chairman from the Bronx Joseph Savino was also arrested in the alleged scheme and pleaded guilty in November to bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud for accepting nearly $15,000. Joseph Desmaret, a former deputy mayor from Spring Valley, also pleaded guilty in January to accepting $10,500 in bribes to sell village land in connection to the scheme. File Photos
Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014 | 21
Boyleing Points
I’m On Rockaway Times By Kevin Boyle Sheesh, I feel like the Rockaway Catwoman with all these lives.I was at that other paper in town a million years ago, wrote very occasional columns through the years, then went back full-time after Sandy until the last adios a few weeks ago. I’m apologizing once to all the people who had their hopes up that I was gone for good. See, I know when to quit; I just don’t when to give up. It’s that kind of deep thought you get around here. Deep and cheap. The Rockaway Times is free. (You can give me fifty cents on the side once in a while. I mean you’ll be saving the fifty cents
when you stop buying the other paper soon enough. (oooooh, zing). So what happened? How’d I end up here? Long story short: I was trying to buy The Wave and after months and months of negotiating, the deal went off the rails.One thing was said on Friday, another thing on Monday. It was time to go. That’s the short version. And I’ll leave it at that unless rumors bug me enough that I have to write a book and make a movie. (I already have the name: Another Rockaway Documentary). Anyway, on my way out the door, Patricia Adams, the publisher of The Forum in Howard Beach, contacted me. She said Rockaway needed a second newspaper. Hmmm, I had to think about it.I
NYC PARKS Offers Beach Update From The New York Parks Department (always to be taken with a grain of sand) as of Wednesday, June 25: The US Army Corps of Engineers is currently pumping sand through large pipes to restore Rockaway Beach and
22 | Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014
create berms that will help to protect the beach from flooding. As the Corps moves along the beach, they move these pipes and the heavy equipment needed to complete their work. And, as they complete a section of the beach,
mean Rockaway is like Noah’s Ark. Two bridges, two Thai restaurants, two city council districts, two Breezy Dogs, and too many nail salons to count. Competition is good, right? If the Parks Department had competition, we’d have a boardwalk by now. Come on, come on, do it, that little devil on my shoulder said.Rockaway has too much going on, too many nuts to ignore. When the ferry runs aground, that’s material, that’s the stuff you’ve got to write about.The good angel on my other shoulder said, hold on. With some of those people onboard, you would’ve jumped off long before the ferry ever hit the sand bar. You really want to engage the nuts again? The answer was yes.They’re nuts but
they’re my nuts, so to speak. So that’s it: Boyleing Points is back and I’m on Rockaway Times. * * * My mother is doing the proffreeding so if you’ve got komplaints you know who to contact. * * * As for other mistakes and growing pains, I’m only making one guarantee. We’ll have this right before the jetties get here. * * * For all of you who’ve pledged your help and support (thanks!) please ask your favorite newspaper place to carry The RT. And one more shameless plea: please support our advertisers!Tell them you saw their ad in The Rockaway Times.
the sand needs to be graded to allow pedestrian access and sand ramps need to be built over any remaining pipes. We cannot safely allow swimming where the Corps is moving equipment or where access has not yet been created. Open without pipe: B149 to B113.
Open with shore pipe: B113 to B68. Closed for active construction: B68 to B62. The following sections are open for swimming: B. 9,13,15,17,18 B. 29-30; B. 58-59; B. 84,85; B.97,98,99; B.106,107,108; B. 115-119 B.120-129; B.131-139; B.141-148.
Sanitation Worker Killed in Maspeth: NYPD By Debbie Cohen
was unresponsive and taken to a nearby hospital, where A city sanitation worker was he was pronounced dead on killed in Maspeth on Saturarrival. “We are deeply saddened day after he was accidentally to learn of the loss of New struck and pinned down by a York’s strongest while he was mechanical street sweeper, ofon the job in service of our ficials said. Steven Frosch, 43, was city,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said working on his sweeper in a in a statement. DSNY garage around 1 p.m. on Frosch, a 15-year veteran Photo courtesy DSNY 48th Street in Maspeth when Steven Frosch with the Sanitation Departa 33-year-old co-worker was ment, leaves behind a wife and driving forward and struck Frosch, pin- four children. ning him between both sweepers, authoriOfficials said an investigation is ongoties said. Emergency responders said he ing.
Queens Man Convicted of Menacing on Sandy Gas Line A St. Albans man was convicted of wielding a weapon to cut in front of a long gas line in the days following Superstorm Sandy, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Sean M. Bailey, 37, or 204th Street, pulled up to a gas station at the intersection of Astoria Boulevard and 43rd Street around 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2012 as a passenger in a white 2010 BMW and tried cutting the line in front of a 29-yearold man, Brown said. When the man complained, Bailey left the car, walked up to the man and showed his .25 caliber
Phoenix Ravel pistol. “If you don’t pull back, you are not getting gas tonight,” he allegedly told the man, Brown said. The man then backed off and called the police, who arrived soon after and arrested Bailey. Bailey was convicted of second and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree menacing after a nine-day trial in Queens Supreme Court, the district attorney said. He now faces a minimum of seven years and a maximum of 15 years in prison, Brown said.
Best Wishes To The Rockaway Times
From Greg Mocker From PIX 11 He’s Looking For You On Rockaway Beach You Will See Him On PIX 11 News
Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014 | 23
SURF SHOP
192 B. 92 St., Rockaway Beach, NYC | 718-318-7997
Congratulates and extends our best wishes to KEVIN BOYLE Rockaway Times
Thanks for everything you did for our community post-Sandy. Looking forward to reading your witty words in the future! Rockaway is lucky to have you looking out for us as we continue to rebuild.
To Kevin Boyle & Pat Adams
Congratulations and Wishing You Success!
ROCKAWAY TIMES
On your joint venture of “The Rockaway Times” Dolores and Jack Weber 24 | Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014
Best of Luck to the Rockaway Times Peter Galvin, MD 120-05 Newport Avenue Rockaway Park, NY
Serving the people of Rockaway since 1983
Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014 | 25
Between The Groins
One Ugly Backside
Neponsit Home’s Beachside A Real Disgrace
The Beach and Hometown Pride By John Cori As long as we live on this peninsula with the mighty Atlantic ocean at our doorstep beach issues will be part of our lives. By “beach issues,” I mean sand replenishment, jetties, boardwalk construction, lifeguard shortages, beach access, law enforcement, and more! Some of these are life and death issues. I hope you’ll follow this column which will have news and opinion about these ongoing matters. And I hope you’ll help me. If you see something or learn something, please contact me at the email address below. In this introductory column I wanted to give a shout out to the peninsula as a whole. A question often raised in many neighborhoods is “what is the greatest challenge facing a particular neighborhood?” When asking the question on the challenges of the Rockaway peninsula, people often respond as if “Rockaway” is a simply another neighborhood in Southern Queens. We often hear the
Rockaway peninsula referred to as The Rockaways, Rockaway Beach or Far Rockaway, especially in the media! How many times have you sat down to watch the evening news and the reporter says “I’m here reporting live in the Far Rockaway. . .” yet it is clear to anyone who lives on the Rockaway peninsula, the reporter is reporting live from Fort Tilden! We rarely see a reporter say they are in Chinatown while reporting from Bay Ridge! The Rockaway peninsula’s greatest challenges is our geographic location, (although I will admit it is also or greatest asset). But another challenge is expressing our community individuality. Who are we? Too often, as large a potentially powerful collective of eleven great neighborhoods, we are referred to simply as “The Rockaways,” relegating us to obscurity by a name that fails to show how big and diverse really we are. We should be proud of who we are as a wonderful collection of
Photo by Kevin Boyle
The City spends more than a quarter of a million dollars a year on maintenance and security on the abandoned Neponsit Healthcare Facility. It appears none of the money is going to the backside of the building.Broken windows are the norm.
neighborhoods on The Rockaway Peninsula and our close neighbor of Broad Channel! Our individualities are our greatest strengths. We can do nothing about our shape or our location on a map, but we can promote our individualities. We can shout out from each individual neighborhood. Shout out I am Bayswater, I am Far Rockaway, I am Edgemere, I am Arverne, I am Rockaway Beach, I am Broad Channel, I am
Rockaway Park, I am Belle Harbor, I am Neponsit, I am Roxbury and I am Breezy Point Together. WE ARE ROCKAWAY and our time has come!!! (You can reach me by email at SeaTheNight@aol.com). John Cori is a Rockaway Beach resident, Community Board member, president of the Friends of Rockaway Beach, fulltime and longtime beach advocate.
GOOD LUCK TO ROCKAWAY TIMES AND KEVIN BOYLE WE ARE HAPPY YOUR VOICE WILL CONTINUE TO BE HEARD FOR ROCKAWAY THE GOLDBERG FAMILY 26 | Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014
WALSH Properties, Inc. ROCKAWAY – THE HAMPTONS OF NEW YORK CITY 177 Beach 116th St. – 2nd Floor Phone (718) 945-5512 or (347) 731-0285 • Fax (718) 945-5370 www.waslhproperties.com • www.facebook.com/WalshPropertiesInc
FOR SALE BELLE HARBOR LOT – BEACH 131 ST 60 x 100 and ready to build $490K. Make an offer! BELLE HARBOR – NEW TO THE MARKET One family on 60 x 100. Center hall with four bedrooms. LR, FDR, EIK, basement, enclosed porch, beautiful yard. Close to all and very convenient. $700's BELLE HARBOR – 80 x 100 Two family home on 80 x 100. Owner has four bedrooms and finished basement. Tenant's apartment is one bedroom with office. Separate entrances. Garage, pvt drive and gorgeous backyard. $800's NEW TO THE MARKET - BELLE HARBOR Let the house pay for itself! Three bedrooms two baths over the same. Each apartment is almost 1,500 square feet. Plus a fabulous finished basement with kitchenette and bathroom. Double car garage and driveway. Great investment. $700's NEPONSIT – NEW TO THE MARKET Split-level ranch on 50 x 100 in good condition. Three bedrooms, two baths, basement and family room. Spacious backyard and outdoor shower. Perfect pool area. Tons of parking. $700's BELLE HARBOR – NEW TO THE MARKET Two family with three bedrooms over walk-in two bedrooms. Pvt drive and lovely yard. Convenient to all. Perfect mother/daughter or extended family. $785K
CONDO FOR SALE Ocean Grand – Two bedrooms, two baths w/terrace …………………...............…. $475K CO-OP FOR SALE Beach 118 St – Oceanfront – Hampton House – One bedroom w/terrace …........$235K APARTMENTS FOR RENT Beach 66 St – Three bedroom ……….............................................................. $1,500 Beach 97 St and SFP – Two bedrooms, terrace overlooking beach ……............. $1,850 Beach 118 St – Duplex two bedroom ……....................................................... $1,500 Beach 121 St – Studio ……….............................................................................$900 Beach 121 St – Three bdrom duples, 2 terraces ……..............................$1,800 no fee Beach 121 St - One bdrm ………………...................................................$1,300 no fee Beach 123 St – Walk-in one bedroom ………...................................................$1,250 Beach 123 St – Oceanviews – Fabulous one bedroom w/office …….................$1,500 Beach 124 St – One bdrm ………….................................................................... $950 Beach 124 St – All new one bedroom, CAC, walk-in, pkg ………………............….$1,400 COMMERCIAL SPACE – FOR SALE Rockaway Beach – Two buildings back to back. Store plus apartment plus four additional units. Each unit has its own boiler and hot water heater. Great investment….................................................................................................$800's Beach 100 St – 110 x 100. Perfect for residential development. All offers considered. Beach 116 St area – 800 ft……...................................................................... $300K SUMMER RENTALS BUNGALOW – Beach 109 St …………………….............................. $5,000 for season Beach 97 St – Three bedrooms, two baths, parking …………............…$20,000 season Beach 97 St – Two bedrooms, terrace…………….............................…$14,000 season
WALSH MANAGEMENT CORP. Prayer for our troops. Lord, hold our troops in your hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen. Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014 | 27
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28 | Rockaway Times • June 26, 2014
Parking Available