Rockaway Times 4-6-23

A Growing Opportunity

Smile Farms & Bungalow Bar Team Up To Provide Opportunities For Those with Disabilities

9 Years of Winning!

Almost nine years in business— and nine years as an award-winning newspaper. After spending the weekend up in Albany for the 2022 New York Press Association’s Spring Conference and Better Newspaper Awards, The Rockaway Times and editor Katie McFadden once again came home as a winner.

The publishers and staff of The Rockaway Times spent Friday and Saturday upstate, networking and picking up new tips to make the newspaper even better going forward at the conference. And in between, The Rockaway Times was awarded along the way.

The 2022 awards were judged by the Colorado Press Association this year. They had the tough job of going through 2,657 entries in 70 categories from 154 New York newspapers. We picked up three awards this time around.

Once again, Katie McFadden was awarded for her annual Christmas in Rockaway video, this time taking home first place, for the first time. Each December, McFadden complies this video featuring photos and videos from various holiday events around the peninsula and sets them to the tune of Shilelagh Law’s “Christmas in New York,” which they perform at the Belle Harbor Yacht Club around the holidays. She then shares it to The Rockaway Times’ social media pages. In their comments, the judges said, “What a great video of a beautiful Christmas. Love it!”

The Rockaway Times also took home second place for Spot News Photo thanks to local resident Tim Moriarty, who regularly contributes his amazing shots around the peninsula to our paper. This time, his winning shot surely depicted a unique scene. Moriarty’s photo

was of a group of surfers attempting to rescue a stranded sperm whale back in December. Moriarty was right on scene and captured this news-worthy shot that earned him second place. In their comments, the judges said, “Wow! How often do we see a beached whale with people attempting to save it?”

And while we won some legitimate awards, we also won a just for fun one. The Rockaway Times took home second place for “Blooper of the Year.” It’s never a bad thing to laugh at yourself and not take yourself too seriously, and we did just that when we submitted for this award. What was it for? Last February, in response to a development proposal for the Chai Home on Beach 125th, our front page said, “Goodbye Chai?” We were later informed by a concerned caller that “chai” in Hebrew means “life.” So, we had "Goodbye Life?" in big red letters on the front page. It was an innocent mistake, and it certainly received some attention and laughs!

Despite occasional bloopers, we’re proud to say that when you’re reading The Rockaway Times, you’re reading an award-winning newspaper every year since its existence. Thank you for reading. Here’s to continued success!

Uptown Beaches to Face Summer Closures

going diligence throughout this far-reaching coastal protection project, and I am looking forward to a wonderful Rockaway beach season this year.”

It’s official. Uptown will face beach closures this summer due to the Army Corps work.

On Tuesday, April 4, NYC Parks and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced the expected beach and swimming access updates for Rockaway Beach this summer as part of the $336 million Atlantic Shorefront Resiliency Project to protect and strengthen the Rockaway community.

According to a press release from NYC Parks, in line with USACE's confirmed construction schedule, starting Memorial Day weekend, as many as 70 blocks of Rockaway Beach will be open to swimming seven days a week. Due to construction, 10-15 blocks of beach will be temporarily closed to all access throughout the summer, moving westward from Beach 116, and moving eastward from Beach 143.  The closures will be rolling; over the course of the summer the work zones, open beaches, and beach access will shift as the necessary work progresses. The entirety of the Rockaway boardwalk will remain open.

"The temporary beach closures that are necessary this summer will help to protect this frontline community and bring us a safer and more resilient beach that all New Yorkers can enjoy,” Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Kizzy Charles-Guzman, said.

"Rockaway Beach is a vibrant, much-loved summertime destination for residents and tourists alike, and we're proud that this summer much of the beach will be open while this necessary resiliency work continues,” NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue said. "I thank our partners at the Army Corps of Engineers for their expediency and on-

"There is no question, the Rockaways have been severely impacted by coastal storms and intense erosion over the years and the improvements we're making as part of our ongoing Coastal Storm Risk Reduction Project will go a long way toward reducing risk to these communities from future storms,” Colonel Matthew Luzzatto, Commander of USACE, New York District, said. "I continue to be impressed and thankful for the tremendous work done by my team and our partners, especially NYC Parks, as we continue to work diligently at reducing coastal storm risk for the residents of the Rockaways.”

Launched in 2020 and scheduled through 2026, USACE's work is responsive to decades of calls to address severe erosion and flooding from coastal storms, which has been exacerbated by climate-change, at one of New York City's most popular beaches. The project consists of 14 new stone groin structures, the rehabilitation of five existing groins, the construction of a reinforced dune system, and sand renourishment on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Rockaway Peninsula. Stone groins are rock structures that extend out into the ocean that will trap sand and reduce beach erosion. They will support sand accumulation, allowing for wider beaches, less erosion, and better protection from storms when complete.

NYC Parks beaches open for the 2023 season on Saturday, May 27, and will remain open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Beachgoers are directed not to swim in red-flagged areas. Beachgoers looking for updated project information and ongoing service changes can visit the NYC Parks dedicated webpage (www.nycgovparks.org/facility/beaches/beach-recovery/rockaway-beach-closures) which will be updated ahead of the Memorial Day opening.

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023

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Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato

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Email: amatos@nyassembly.gov 718-945-9550

City Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers

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State Senator James Sanders Jr.

1931 Mott Avenue – Suite 305 Far Rockaway, NY 11691

Email: sanders@nysenate.gov 718-327-7017

Assemblyman Khaleel Anderson

19-31 Mott Avenue, Suite 301 Far Rockaway, NY 11691

Email: Andersonk@nyassembly.gov 718-327-1845

Jeanne Ferriola and Sean McVeigh PUBLISHER

Katie McFadden MANAGING EDITOR

Mary Ellen Olsen MANAGER

Monica Clifford BILLING/ LEGALS

Tom McVeigh and Fred Marino SALES

Kevin Boyle FOUNDER/PUBLISHER EMERITUS

THE ROCKAWAY TIMES is published every Thursday by Double Nickel LLC (USPS # 16930), 114-04 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Park, NY 11694. Post master: Send address changes to The Rockaway Times, 114-04 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Park, NY 11694. Periodical postage paid at Rockaway Park Post Office, 11694.

Ad space reservations by Monday, 12 noon, preceding date of subject. 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 sub– ject to editing. Writers should include a full address and home office telephone number. Anon ymous 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.

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PALM SUNDAY (April 1st, 2023) Saturday Vigil Masses: 4 pm at St. Virgilius & 5:30 pm at St. Camillus.

Sunday Masses: 10 am at St. Virgilius & 8:30 am & 11:30 am at St. Camillus.

RECONCILIATION MONDAY (April 3rd, 2023) Confessions will be heard from 2 pm to 6 pm in St. Camillus Church. Penance Service at 7 pm in St. Virgilius Church.

HOLY THURSDAY (April 6th, 2023) Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7:00 pm in St. Camillus Church (followed by Adoration until 10 pm).

GOOD FRIDAY (April 7th, 2023) Morning Prayer at 9 am in St. Camillus Church. Celebration of the Lord's Passion at 3 pm in St. Camillus Church. Family Stations of the Cross at 7pm in St. Virgilius Church.

HOLY SATURDAY (April 8th, 2023) Morning Prayer at 9 am in St. Camillus Church with Blessing of Easter Food.

Blessing of Easter Food at 12 Noon in St. Camillus Church. Confessions from Noon to 1 pm in St. Camillus Church.

NO Saturday Evening Vigil Masses at 4 pm & 5:30 pm.

Easter Vigil at 8 pm in St. Camillus Church.

EASTER SUNDAY (April 9th, 2023) Masses at 8:30 am & 11:30 am in St. Camillus Church. Mass at 10 am in St. Virgilius Church.

To advertise in The Rockaway Times call 718-634-3030 · ads@RockawayTimes.com

McVeighing In

By Sean McVeigh

Never Gets Old

Rockaway is blessed with some impressive views. Obviously, the ocean view is unbeatable. I don’t think I am being controversial when I say that it is the most popular of all the views. That’s the one that comes to mind first and foremost for the majority of people. The other view, however, is quite a knockout itself. There is something about the Manhattan skyline that never ceases to draw out a smile and a sense of awe. We are certainly blessed with that view, maybe even spoiled, but the view is not unique to Rockaway the way

the ocean is around here. There are only a few different routes to drive from anywhere outside of the city to Rockaway. I avoid going through Manhattan like the plague so, for me, I know a long drive home is concluding when I am driving in Jersey, and I turn on some random bend and I am met with that skyline. So close, yet so very far away from where you want to go. Coming over the Verrazzano Bridge from Staten Island, we usually find ourselves looking to the right to see how traffic is building on the Belt (I

don’t know why we look; we know what’s there). But if we were to look the other way, you get, in my opinion, one of the best views of the city. When I was working in the city for a few years, I would catch myself looking up and gawking at the buildings. It didn’t matter how many times I had seen them, there was just something bewitching about it.

The reason I write this small ode to that view is every time I look over the bay, the first, the last, the thousands of times in between, I think to myself “man, that never gets old.” Whether it’s on a clear morning when the sunlight is dancing off the buildings or as a storm is rolling in from the north and you lose the tops of the buildings in the clouds—it always does the trick.

I am starting to learn that in life, a lot of things “get old.” People, for one, but that’s a gimme. But other things, too. Some that come to mind right away are politics, radio stations, endless construction, speed camera tickets, a whipping cold wind and DFDs.

What is so impressive is that there are certain things that, no matter how often you experience them, they do not seem to get old. They are timeless and classic. A few of those that come to mind, other than that stunning skyline, are a perfectly poured pint of Guinness, the first plop in your beach chair after lugging everything down, “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes, a boardwalk bike ride, a one-man band and flipping through a local newspaper on a Thursday morning.

To each their own! Maybe an avid kite-surfer out there is spitting angry at my slight to whipping winds right now, and that is fine by me. I am no philosopher. I don’t know very much about much of anything. So, I will go ahead and state the obvious: I am starting to think we should all be spending a little more time on the stuff that doesn’t get old and a little less on the stuff that does. Thankfully, around here, you don’t have to look very far to find your personal “never gets old.”

A Growing Partnership: Smile Farms and Bungalow Bar

By Dan Guarino

Something new is being “planted” with care and growing in Rockaway. Bungalow Bar and the non-profit Smile Farms Inc. are working to create new opportunities for people with disabilities.

Recently, Julie Mulligan, a founding member of Smile Farms, and Bungalow Bar General Manager Katy Grey, hosted a “Sips & Stems” fundraising event at the popular bar/restaurant, where Mulligan officially announced the blossoming of their new partnership.

Not only will Smile Farmer’s bring things to bloom in the growing space at Bungalow Bar but Smile Staffers will be embarking on employment and training opportunities within the restaurant.

As stated, Smile Farms’ mission is “to provide developmentally disabled adults with meaningful work opportunities at farms, urban gardens, greenhouses and farm stands where they can grow and sell flowers, plants and produce in their local communities.” They have now added creating employment opportunities in the hospitality industry to that mission.

It started with “my brother Kevin,” Mulligan explains, “who is a resident in a group home in Eastport, New York, which is part of Independent Group Home Living (IGHL), a residence for people with developmental disabilities. Kevin’s been a part of the IGHL family for 30 years.”

In 2015, their brother, 1-800-Flowers founder Jim McCann, got a call from IGHL CEO/founder Walter Stockton. Stockton felt Kevin and the other residents would flourish if given the chance for meaningful employment. But such possibilities for the disabled were scarce. Similarly, McCann’s company had been looking for a charitable cause to connect with. Forming a partnership, they opened the first Smile Farms campus that year.

“Throughout the years, our family business, started by my brother Jim, and now run by my brother, Chris, has been a strong partner and advocate of IGHL,” Mulligan says. “I was a part of the team for

about 40 years, working as a creative consultant/content provider after stepping down as Senior VP of Merchandising and Photography. During my consulting years, I started doing DIY workshops at the Bungalow Bar. Being a Rockaway resident, I have known the owners, the Tubridy family, and Katy Grey forever.”

Grey, part of Bungalow Bar’s team for 15-years, adds, “We got involved with 1-800-Flowers pre-Covid and did some amazing hands-on events teaching guests how to build floral arrangements.” Among other community-minded partnerships of Bungalow and parent company In Good Company Hospitality (IGC), she says, “We are involved in the Billion Oyster Project which is helping to restore oysters in New York Harbor.”

nary piece is brandnew, as of last year.” Their chief partnership so far has been with Crafted Hospitality, which operates high-end establishments from Manhattan to Long Island. With Bungalow Bar, they are ready to expand that model.

In connecting partners with people with disabilities, Martin says, “We’re saying, ‘These are people with the right skills for what you are looking for, that this is a good marriage that is good for the employer and good for your business.’

“We’re trying to simulate the experience that any other job candidate would have. We’re wanting them to have the experience of a competitive job interview. We also want the businesses to have the experience of being flexible and being sensitive to what any employee might need.”

trajectory for someone who otherwise might not have had one.” At Crafted, one employee has already been promoted.

It has worked out very well for the businesses, too. “They say their Smile Staffer employees are more motivated, that they inspire everybody else to be more productive, and more committed to their work, and feel that they learn things from their presence there,” Martin said.

Mulligan recalls, “We had just started with these workshops and Covid hit. Again, the leadership at IGC stepped up to the plate – this time for Smile Farms.” First, they allowed them to sell flowers donated from a grower in California who suddenly had no customers. The Sunflowers for Smiles sale at Bungalow was a big success. Next, “they allowed us to film a DIY workshop in one of suites at The Rockaway Hotel that was used for a DIY virtual fundraiser for Smile Farms. The video featured myself as the floral designer and Katy Grey as the cocktail creator,” thus launching yet another successful collaboration. Now they are ready to move that partnership into the dining room.

Diana Martin, Managing Director at Smile Farms, explains. “The culi-

What do Smile Staffer employees bring to the table? “One of the key things is they’re bringing a dedication to the position, and also, they’re knowing that you need to be there on time, that whatever job you’re hired to do, people are counting on you to do it to the best of your ability. To communicate in whatever way you do, which may or may not require the support of a job coach, which we are willing to provide. That you are there, and you are willing to learn, to contribute your piece and to know that you are an instrumental piece of the team.”

She says that part of their experience is a socialization piece, being part of a team and the practical quantitative skills, and all that’s involved in a kitchen and in restaurant. “And it creates a career

“We start most employees as bussers and server assistants,” Grey said. “The training will be the same that we use for all employees.” From there, they can expand into all the other roles necessary to keep a busy restaurant running smoothly. Smile Farmers will also be cultivating flowers there which will grace Bungalow Bars’ tables. “We will also be using and selling the delicious Smile Farms hot sauces this coming summer!” Grey added.

As Martin puts it, the time is right. “We’re seeing such huge opportunity right now, coming from this recession-like atmosphere, coming out of this pandemic. Everyone is struggling with hiring. They need people. They need good people. It’s a good fit.”

All agree, with the Rockaway community’s support, great things will be sprouting from the seeds Smile Farms and Bungalow have planted.

For more information to partner with, contribute to or join Smile Farms, or order their Heat with Heart hot sauce, go to www.Smilefarms.org or call 516-237-4748.

Photos by Dan Guarino and courtesy of Smile Farms Inc.

Happy Passover, which began last night and Happy Easter, which is this Sunday!  We hope everyone enjoys the holiday weekend!  And, if you are traveling, have a safe trip!

Another year, another few awards in the books. We don’t love to toot our own horn over here at the Rockaway Times (we leave that to you guys! And Freddy!) but we are sure proud to share that we had yet another successful trip to the New York Press Association’s Spring Conference and Better Newspaper Awards. Our managing editor Katie McFadden added a couple of notches to her already impressive belt, and we even had a win from one of our loyal contributors, Tim Moriarty. We hope to bring home even

more hardware next year! *****

After four years, Tommy Morgan will be stepping down as the President of the Graybeards—the local non-profit, which has been a cornerstone of the community for over 20 years. The Graybeards made the announcement on Facebook on Wednesday, telling Tommy to enjoy his “vacation.” According to one longtime member, “Tommy has done so much for this organization and the community it serves. We could not have asked for a better President.” At a membership meeting this past Monday, Tommy announced to his fellow Graybeards that he would be stepping down, and that Dan Leary, another long serving Graybeard, will serve as the next President. Congratulations to Tommy Morgan, and we wish Dan Leary the best of luck moving forward! *****

Sister Patricia Walsh, CSJ, former teacher at St. Francis, passed away

on Sunday, April 2, 2023. She was in her 68th year of religious life. *****

We have heard several locals express their displeasure with the NYC Parks Department after their children were disqualified from the lifeguard qualifying test due to failing the eye exam. The conditions of the eye exam have been reportedly substandard with poor lighting and nonprofessionals administering the exam. One local said that after her daughter failed the exam, she then brought her to an ophthalmologist who said she had 20/20 vision. Besides the fact that these test administrators are not qualified to administer such an exam, the City’s policy of requiring 20/20 vision without corrective lenses does not seem to square with the widespread use of contact lenses in all activities. This is especially true with the City simultaneously easing their swimming standards in this year’s qualifying test. Obviously good vision is a prerequisite to the job but for some reason wearing contact lenses is verboten. We believe that these children should not only be given

another opportunity to pass the eye exam, but that passing one under the supervision of an actual eye professional should more than suffice for the City to allow them to continue onto the lifeguard training class.

*****

Speaking of displeasure with NYC Parks… we received official confirmation that there will be significant closures to the uptown beaches this summer. According to a press release from Parks, 10-15 beaches will be closed on a rolling basis from Beach 116th Street to Beach 143rd Street.

The Rockaway Times’ Photo Contest submission period is beginning to wind down! Submissions will be accepted until next Friday, April 14. Make sure to send your photos to contest@rockawaytimes.com

Last week, we mistakenly reported on an incident at Channel View High School on Facebook. The incident took place on the Beach Channel Educational Campus but did not involve Channel View. We apologize for that incorrect claim.

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This Week in History

APRIL 6

Glenn DiResto was born. Eileen Lennon was born. Kevin Dolan was born.

1830 - Joseph Smith and five others organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fayette, New York.

1917 - U.S. declared war on Germany and entered World War I.

APRIL 7

Cliff Shevlin was born. Alan Camhi was born. Mike Charles was born. Joe Visco was born. Jessica Woods was born.

1913 - 5,000 suffragists march to the Capitol in Washington, D.C., seeking the vote for women.

APRIL 8

Jimmy Morgan was born.

1974 - Henry "Hank" Aaron hit the 715th home run of his career, breaking Babe Ruth's record.

1992 - Tennis ace Arthur Ashe announced that he had AIDS.

APRIL 9

Donovan Richards was born. Joyce Somerville was born. Kieran O’Sullivan was born.

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1963 - Winston Churchill became the first honorary U.S. citizen.

2003 -American Marines pulled down Saddam Hussein’s statue in Baghdad after U.S. commanders declared his rule ended. 2005 - Britain's Prince Charles marries Camilla Parker Bowles.

APRIL 10

Sandra Schunck was born. Patrick O’Toole was born.

1912 - Titanic set sail on its fateful voyage. 1970 - Paul McCartney announced the official split of the Beatles.

APRIL 11

Joe Kenel was born. Kelly Werner was born. Tom Burke was born.

1814 - Napoleon was exiled to the island of Elba.

1968 - President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the 1968 Civil Rights Act.

APRIL 12

Edwin Williams was born. Charles Knopper was born. Miriam Rosenberg was born.

1955 - The polio vaccine of Dr. Jonas Salk was called "safe, effective, and potent."

2017 – Jim Cunningham appeared in The Word Search.

An Easter Dip

Rockaway’s own New York Dippers Club is hosting an Easter Sunday & Passover Breakfast Dip at Beach 67th Street at 9 a.m. this Sunday, April 9. Whether you’re a seasoned polar plunger or are just cold therapy curious, whether you want to enjoy a full immersion or maybe just dip your toes, the Dippers would love for you to join them for a morning of joy,

fun, gratitude, rebirth, and fresh bagels. The Dippers are an open Rockaway community, and all are welcome to come greet Easter morning together while enjoying the beautiful nature of our beach and company of your neighbors, whether you celebrate the holiday or not and whether you go in the water or not, Breakfast on the beach at 8:45 a.m. (ish) and Dip at 9 a.m. (ish). The Dippers hope to see you there!

You can see more about the Dippers on Facebook at New York Dippers Club or Instagram @ NewYorkDippersClub

By Katie McFadden

When Far Rockaway resident Isaiah Tart was a kid, he used to play an “American Idol” karaoke game with his family. Tart had dreams of one day auditioning for the show. He recently came across the old game and the irony of the timing wasn’t lost on him. After all, it was a reminder that the now 24-year-old singer has proven to his younger self that he could do it. Not only did Tart audition for “American Idol” Season 21—he also got the golden ticket to Hollywood.

Tart has been singing from a young age and started to develop his talent in music class at P.S. 106 in Far Rockaway. But it was at church where Tart really began to hone his gift from God. For the past 10 years, Tart’s father, Sterling Tart, has served as pastor of Humbleway Church of God in Christ in South Ozone Park,

where Tart says is where he really developed the courage to become a performer. “I’m a PK, a preacher’s kid, and my dad heard me singing everywhere but church, so he forced me into singing at church. But I thank God my dad pushed me in that direction because it changed my life. That’s where my confidence came from,” Tart said.

As he got older, his confidence grew through church and singing with the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club in Far Rockaway, and by the time he performed at his first big talent show in sixth grade at M.S. 53, belting out “Who’s Loving You?” by the Jackson 5, the response from his classmates let Tart know that he wasn’t just a good singer. “I opened my mouth and the reaction I got from them was insane. I was in sixth grade, and I had people in eighth grade calling me 'nephew' and 'cousin' after that. They approved

of me. It was one of the biggest moments for me,” he said. And it would be one of many. In 2016, Tart made it to The Gift competition. “It was local to Queens,

and someone referred me to it. It was like “American Idol” for Sunday’s best. I won the final,” Tart said.

Continued on page 11

AMERICAN IDOL

Continued from page 10

That opened some big opportunities to him, like opening for famed gospel singer, Beverly Crawford in Delaware and Alabama.

At age 19, Tart decided to try out for something that would give him even more exposure. He tried out for NBC show, “The Voice.” Tart says he got far in the audition process but ultimately didn’t make it onto the show. However, he decided to put his church voice to the test on “Sunday Best,” a BET reality show for gospel singers. “I made it on the screen. That was my first screentime on a show,” he said. But it wasn’t Tart’s big break.

During the peak of the pandemic, Tart found his own audience. “About two years ago, there was this challenge on TikTok and the very first video I uploaded, I sang and I added church to it, and people loved it because it was different. I went to sleep and woke up to a crazy number of comments, likes and views,” he said. Utilizing TikTok to showcase his voice in different ways, Tart now has a following of 84.6K on TikTok. Someone took notice.

This time, a show reached out to him. A casting director for “American Idol” messaged Tart and told him they were interested in him auditioning for the show, without him having to wait in line. After realizing the message was legitimate, Tart pulled out all the punches for the online audition, renting out a studio, donning a nice outfit and prepping the perfect songs. The producers ate it up. “I was told that one of the head producers really liked it and they saw me as a game changer,” he said. Tart got a yes from the producers, and they invited him to an audition city to officially try out. Tart chose to go to Las Vegas. “They flew me to Vegas in September and picked me up from the airport, and everything from the flight to the hotel was paid for,” he said. And his mom, Jacqueline, joined him on the journey. “My mom was with me every step of the way since I’m a kid. Every rehearsal, every audition, she’s been on my side,” he said.

In early filming, Tart was asked to share his background story, to which the crew told him, “You have one of the best energies we’ve had since

we’ve been in Vegas.” Tart told them, “I’m from Far Rock, it’s just the energy we bring. We give good energy, good vibes.” During the second day of filming, the crew asked him to react to a video of past “Idol” performances. Instead, he was surprised with a special Zoom call of support from his students at a high school where Tart works as an associate for United Community Schools, along with his co-workers and other family that couldn’t be there for the audition. “I walked out of that room and everything hit me, about how real this was. About how my nieces, my nephews, my siblings, my hometown, my parents had my back and how far I’ve made it. And I started shedding tears and I said to myself, ‘You got this. You’re gonna get the golden ticket.’”

Tart was given the opportunity to audition in front of the judges, Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. “As soon as I walked into the room, the first thing Lionel Richie said was, ‘You’re going to Hollywood.’ I said, ‘you don’t know that.’ He said, ‘you got the look,’” Tart recalled. Then he got a chance to prove it. In a sweet dedication to his father, Tart opened with “Complicated” by Leandria Johnson. It was a performance that won over the judges. “I got a standing ovation from Lionel and Katy. Lionel said, ‘I see so much in you. You have it,’” Tart recalled. Katy advised him to maybe not give too much too early, and Luke didn’t have much to say, but there was only one word that mattered. Tart got a “Yes” from all three judges. “You’re going to Hollywood!” they said.

Tart got the golden ticket. “It felt amazing. It felt like I accomplished what I said I would accomplish as a kid. To go to Hollywood is big. I thought, we’re not in Far Rockaway anymore, we’re going to Hollywood.”

During Hollywood Week, Tart got to meet competitors from across the country in Los Angeles and was tasked with choosing a category to work on. Knowing stage presence wasn’t his strong suit, he chose that, and got some pointers from the first “American Idol” runner-up, Justin Guarini, who gave him some advice that went against what Katy Perry had said. Tart sang “Tell Me You Love Me” by Demi Lovato for

Guarini. According to Tart, Guarini was blown away. Since he had the vocals down, Guarini gave him tips on stage presence and advised him to give everything he had, opposite of what Katy Perry had advised.

During his performance in front of the judges, Tart gave it his all. Despite receiving major applause from fellow competitors after his performance, the judges had something different to say. “Lionel said ‘you nailed the stage presence, but it was still too much.’ Katy said, ‘you have to save some for later,’” he recalled. Tart felt defeated but his fellow competitors reassured him, telling him he was Top 10 material.

By the end of the filming, Tart was given the bad news. He wouldn’t be making it to the next round. “That was the moment that broke me,” Tart said. Despite the devastation of being sent home earlier than he expected, Tart was shown immediate support as his family threw him a party when he got home. Tart started to look on the bright side. “They said, ‘we’re so proud of our idol’ and it felt good, and even though I was dealing with the feeling of ‘what if,’ I still had hope because I got my golden ticket and thought the audition would be aired.’” Recalling his story and the superlatives he received during auditions, Tart was counting on his audition being aired, so he would at least get exposure as an artist.

Season 21 began in February, but as the last episode of auditions aired on March 26, Tart was devas-

tated once again to learn none of his footage made the cut. He held out hope for the Hollywood Week episodes, but after those wrapped up on April 3, Tart was nowhere to be seen on the show.

“I found out at work that it wasn’t being aired and it broke me. I remember feeling like dang, now your story is not going to be told. You were on ‘American Idol’ but you weren’t on ‘American Idol,’” he said. Despite not making it on TV, Tart says he takes it as a learning opportunity, and after initially swearing off all audition shows, he may wait two years before trying again. “God’s got something bigger and better. He wasn’t ready for me to be exposed yet. There’s always a setback before the comeback, like a launch. It's like a slingshot. You gotta pull it back but once you release, you go farther than you could imagine.”

Tart still has his dreams set on success. He’s currently recording his first album, after already releasing some music on digital platforms, such as Apple Music and Spotify. He also has dreams of one day opening a center that can help give youth the tools they need to see their own dreams come to fruition.

In the meantime, you can check out Tart’s talents on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook @theisaiahtart or on YouTube under Isaiah Justice Tart.

Photos from Fremantle.

St. Francis de Sales Parish

S hed

Easter Blessings!

Bereavement Ministry Notice

Everyone is welcome. Light refreshments will be served after in Monsignor Reddy Hall. Members of the Ministry will be available to talk to you if you have any questions.

P.S. For anyone grieving the loss of a loved one, the St. Francis de Sales Grief Share Support Group will begin Tuesday, April 18, 2023, 7 p.m. at the Parish House, 2nd floor. Please call the SFDS rectory for more information at 718-634-6464.

The members of the St. Francis de Sales Bereavement Ministry invite anyone who has recently lost a loved one to join them in the Sacred Heart Chapel (Beach 129th Street).

There will be a Memorial Prayer Service on Saturday, April 15 at 11 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Church (129-16 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Belle Harbor, NY 11694, 718-6346464).

New Red-Light Camera in Broad Channel

If you haven’t been down Cross Bay Blvd. recently, Broad Channel has a new red-light camera at West 17th Road. The camera was recently installed following complaints from the community about drivers blowing past the red lights on the boulevard.

In response to increased incidents in Broad Channel, the Broad Channel Civic Association formed a public safety committee, led by Marty Feeney, to address such issues. The Civic requested more patrols but due to limited police staff, patrols can’t always be in the area.

As a result, the Civic requested that a red-light camera be placed at 17th Road because it is a school bus stop, and it is located near a busy park and library. The DOT initially rejected the request, but with urging from Councilwoman Ariola, they agreed.

Along with the addition of the

camera, comes a new rule of no turning left on the red light at 17th Road, something that residents will need time adjusting to. “Due to the age of the electrical infrastructure that supports our traffic lights, some of the oldest in the city, we cannot get a turning arrow installed at this time,” the Civic said.

Fibromyalgia has been difficult to treat and even more difficult to understand UNTIL NOW! Jennifer Beltrani LAc provides patients with much needed relief from fibro symptoms!

PRESS RELEASES

If you're suffering from fibromyalgia you understand this sentiment all too well. Local resident Elyse K found herself at a turning point when she noticed her diagnosis started to take a toll on her marriage.

"I was angry all the time because of the things I couldn't do anymore because of my fibromyalgia. That anger cycled through to depression and affected everyone around me, my husband more than anyone. It made our lives miserable."

Fibromyalgia affects the entire body. To make things complicated, it affects everyone's body a little differently. To make things even more complicated, those effects can change on a daily basis. Sometimes you're plagued with wide spread muscle pain and fatigue, and other days it’s a headache and heightened sensitivity to touch.

"I could barely stand to have the light weight of bedsheets touching me, much less a hug from my husband." explains Elyse.

This is what it’s like to suffer from fibromyalgia. Symptoms make everyday life incredibly difficult. Mundane daily tasks are nearly impossible.

And too often, these symptoms are only made worse because practitioners find it difficult to understand and even more troublesome to treat. It‘s characterized by widespread pain in muscles, and tissues rather than inflammation of the joints, muscles and tissues.

Primary care doctors suggest dietary changes, pain liniments and prescription medications to the point where your life is no longer fueled by fibromyalgia. It's now ruled by a difficult routine and pill regimen that are supposed to aid in avoiding flare ups.

Elyse put it this way, "My life was no longer my own."

Eventually, Elyse did her own research and discovered that acupuncture can improve the quality of life in fibro patients. Determined to find the best in the business, she discovered Acupuncture and Wellness of Rockaway lead by Jennifer Beltrani.

Jennifer Beltrani has been successfully treating difficult to manage, chronic pain cases for almost a decade.

She uses the time tested science of acupuncture and integrates it with modern medical advancements that encourage healing and recovery. Acupuncture is a form of Chinese Medicine that is commonly used to reduce various forms of pain.

Acupuncture works by reducing inflammation, stimulating the release of endorphins and offers much needed effective relief for fibromyalgia.

Then Jennifer skillfully layers other non invasive therapy such as ATP Resonance Bio Therapy for amplified, long lasting results.

"I feel like a new person. My husband comes with me to my appointments. He spends most of it thanking Jennifer for giving him back the woman he married. And for the first time since we moved here, one of my neighbors told me I looked good! It's a miracle she treated my fibro, I don't know how else to explain it."

If you're looking for a practice who not only understands your diagnosis but also has a proven solution for chronic pain, look no further than Acupuncture and Wellness of Rockaway.

Elyse describes Acupuncture and Wellness of Rockaway as enthusiastically as she does their treatments. "I love it here!"

Additional information about Jennifer and her various treatments can be found by visiting www.RockAW.com

Jennifer is now accepting new patients but only for a limited time. In an effort to protect her patients, both current and future, she has made the difficult decision to limit the number of new patients seen in her clinic. Only 6 new fibromyalgia patients will be accepted before April 13th, 2023 so call 718-433-7972 now to schedule a consultation.

" I WAS TIRED OF LIVING WITH MY FIBROMYALGIA PAIN"

Andrew Giuliani Drives Conservative Hopes at Rockaway Republican Club

By Kami-Leigh Agard

As the cinema-verité style of news cameras, helicopters, journalists, Trump supporters, anti-Trump protesters, bureaucrats, and the NYPD thronged lower Manhattan this past Tuesday, April 4’s unprecedented indictment of former President Donald Trump—his former aide and avid golf partner, Andrew Giuliani, chose to stay out of the fray, and instead came to the peninsula’s Rockaway Republican Club (RRC) meeting. As he stated, “Just being miles away from where Alvin Bragg sits every day, I’m very happy to be here.” From school choice, public safety, election integrity, voting, safekeeping conservative values and more, Giuliani engaged a lively dialogue with the club’s attendees at the Belle Harbor Yacht Club. At the meeting, the RRC also held elections for club officers after the club’s recent comeback.

Giuliani, the son of former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, was a special assistant to former President Trump and associate director of the Office of Public Liaison during Trump’s administration. He was also an on-air contributor for conservative media channel, Newsmax TV, and in January of this year, he joined conservative talk radio station, WABC, with his own show, “The Andrew Giuliani Show,” as well as a contributor on “Sid & Friends in the Morning,” and co-host of “Cats at Night” with John Catsimatidis.

While the indictment was the topic du jour bombarding every news outlet, Giuliani only shared a few sentiments. “Now because of some legal gymnastics with a prosecutor, who seems to want to allow violent criminals to walk free and make neighborhoods like mine less safe on a daily basis, to actually look at this, and try to figure out how to put 34 felony counts in there, is absolutely appalling. I have no doubt that if President Trump gets a fair trial, and let me preface it again by saying, ‘if’ President Trump gets a fair trial, it actually might not even go to trial.”

Giuliani, who last year ran in the

NYS gubernatorial Republican primary, but lost against Lee Zeldin, shared that it was because of his daughter that he decided to run for office. “I have a 16-month-old, and more than being a conservative, more than being a New Yorker, being her father is first. I wonder if she’s going to be safe and get a better education in NY. So, that's why I ran for office. That's why I continue to support candidates that are pushing back from an education standpoint, from a public safety standpoint, from a moral standpoint, because I view everything through the eyes of my daughter. And this is why it's so important that we continue to push for ideas like universal school choice and school vouchers,” he said. Regarding school vouchers and charter schools, Giuliani shared his belief that they bring the free market into education. “If every parent got a voucher so they can send their child either to parochial or private school, use it for homeschooling, or towards their public school district if they're doing well, it brings the free market into education. It makes schools perform at a level where parents will actually say, ‘That's the best school for my child right here.’ Plus, money is less of an issue in that instance. Sadly, we have a mayor, who though he did campaign for charter schools and for school choice, when he had the opportunity to go up to Albany and advocate for it, he completely threw 'em under the bus and wouldn't even advocate for raising the regional caps of charter schools.

“Hochul’s been talking a little bit about it, but it doesn't seem like it's gonna get to the assembly or the state senate. We need better assembly members and state senators in Albany. No doubt about that,” he said.

His stance on charter schools and school vouchers fueled a debate with a meeting attendee, who is a NYC public school teacher. She said, “From the standpoint of the union, what happens is when you have vouchers, they're for the Bill and Melinda Gateses who fund these charters schools. The kids attend

these charters, but now, you're taking jobs from union teachers as charter schools do not hire union people.”

Giuliani responded, “You're talking about a $13 billion budget the state has laid aside for education. There's no doubt that there are some great public school teachers, but I think sometimes the union protects teachers that might not be doing the best job. Look at the public school graduation rates. With Covid, the union advocated to keep kids out of school for two years. When I think about who's responsible for this, it's tough for me to look further than Randi Weingarten. They’re advocating for the teachers, not the students. Sadly, the union is protecting some of the worst teachers more than looking at so many of the great teachers and saying, 'What can we do to incentivize these teachers to be better?’ Because if you could do that, then you could figure out a way to raise the standards.”

Another attendee asked Giuliani how he could use his platform to reach out to incentivize the younger generation of voters. He said, “When I think of how the left has out flanked Republicans over the last, let's say 60 years, the two things that really come to mind are the media and education. What originally started on college campuses as legitimate liberal thought, even out of the Democratic party, has

now turned into semi-fascist thought. A college campus should be a place where different ideas are shared and challenged. The fascist political ideology has seeped down now from college campuses to high schools, to elementary schools, and now, even kindergartens. That’s why I'm such a massive school choice advocate. As a father, I want to make sure that when my daughter Grace is seven years old, and I ask her what she learned at school today, she doesn’t say, ‘Well, we learned that dad, you are racist, and by the way, I’m a boy.’

“Also, education begins at home, and as parents, we have to teach and foster conservative values in our children. Also, conservative values should not be censored on social media.”

After more attendees asked questions, and the meeting eventually wound down, Giuliani then reiterated his sentiment that he was happy to be in Rockaway on a very politically incensed day.

“This is why I’m really happy that I have the opportunity to be at this meeting with like-minded people. In my mind, I'm grieving today. We need to figure out what the next step is to actually get control of our government again, and make sure that our government understands that they are supposed to be by the people and for the people,” he said.

The RRC then held elections for its officers resulting with Mary Glynn elected president; Rob Rose, vice president; Margaret Powers, secretary; and Dina Tammaro, treasurer.

For more information about the RRC and future meetings, visit Rockaway Republican Club on Facebook.

Far Rockaway to Get New Health Center

After last week’s announcement of a primary care facility closing in Far Rockaway last week, on Thursday, March 30, NYC Health + Hospitals/ Gotham Health and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced plans to open a new comprehensive community health center in Far Rockaway, to expand access to primary care, women’s health, dental, vision and mental health services for the peninsula community.

The new health center will be located at 1720 Village Lane in Far Rockaway and is expected to open in 2025. On

Thursday, the health system’s Board of Directors approved a proposal to sign a 32-year lease for the 22,000 square foot site. The City of New York contributed $30 million to cover the cost of outfitting the space. The new community health center is part of the NYCEDC’s “Downtown Far Rockaway Roadmap for Action” and Mayor Eric Adams’ “Rebuild, Renew, and Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery.”

“Bringing a quality health care center to New Yorkers in the Rockaways was a promise made in our ‘Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery,’ and today I'm proud to announce our $30 million investment to make this center a reality,” New York City Mayor Adams said.

“The days of deliberate disinvestment in the health of Far Rockaway families are officially done. From thousands of units of housing to a state-ofthe-art library and now to a high-quality NYC Health + Hospitals facility, the $288 million rezoning of Far Rockaway,

which passed in 2017, continues to pay dividends for this community — one that is more than deserving of holistic investment,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. said.

“Today we are making an important step forward in bringing a new community health center to the Far Rockaways,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “When the space is finished, Far Rockaway residents will have easy access to high quality primary care. I want to thank Borough President Richards and the Mayor for their efforts in bringing this new health center to South Queens.”

The clinic still requires approval from the New York State Department of Health, which oversees the opening of all health facilities statewide, as well as other regulatory approvals and a signed lease.

A 2018 Community Health Profile of Rockaway and Broad Channel published by the NYC Health Department found that the area had unmet medical needs:

• 10% of adults reported going with-

TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

out needed medical care in the past 12 months.

• Avoidable hospitalizations among adults were 1,345 per 100,000 adults, nearly 1/3 higher than the rate in Queens or the rest of NYC.

• 15% of adults had diabetes and 34% had high blood pressure, both substantially higher than in the rest of Queens or NYC. These are leading risk factors for heart disease and stroke, and they are diagnosed and treated in primary care. As a result, people in Rockaway and Broad Channel die prematurely at a higher rate than the rest of New York City, with heart disease being the leading cause of premature death.

In August, Mayor Adams announced the completion of two major projects transforming downtown Far Rockaway with 224 new affordable homes and major infrastructure upgrades across the neighborhood, enhancing street safety, climate resiliency, and quality of life for community members. The City is also building the new Far Rockaway Library for Queens Public Library, which is anticipated to open later this year.

All Aboard a Ship of Fools for Prom

Story and photos

By Katie McFadden

Poseidon’s Prom was one for the fishhooks. It may have been a little wet outside on Saturday night, April 1, but it was a good thing many were on a Ship of Fools at the Knights of Columbus. The fundraiser for the annual Poseidon’s Parade in September made a big splash.

The Knights was filled with nautical getups from pirates to mermaids to everything in between, as revelers enjoyed a night of DJ music, light bites, drinks and raffles from plenty of local businesses that stepped up to the plank to support this seaworthy cause organized by the Rockaway Mermaid Brigade.

DJ Paddy Tubz played the tunes for the night, and included a touching moment where he led a “second line,” a tribute where

everyone danced around the room in a line in tribute to those who are no longer with us.

Following the tribute, head mermaid Casey Brouder announced the much-deserved Prom King and Queen. This year, the hon-

or went to King Jerry Rea and his Queen Jenny Jording. The couple will have the honor of leading the Poseidon’s Parade at the end of the summer. It must’ve been Jerry Rea’s lucky night indeed as he was also the winner of the 50/50. Rochelle Grubb was awarded a coveted phallic-shaped trophy for her dedication to the art of the parade.

Some amazing raffle prizes donated by Pico, Batesy’s, Deirdre

Maeve’s, Last Stop, Boarders, Roccos, Betsy’s Bungalow, Ocean Bliss, Bungalow Bar, the Rockaway Hotel, Ocean Etching and more, went to some lucky winners. The man behind Whalemina, artist Geoff Rawling, was also working on some pieces while selling some of his artwork at the event.

Save the date! The 9th annual Poseidon’s Parade will be Saturday, September 16.

161-11 Crossbay Blvd

Knights of Columbus To Celebrate 95th Annual Mass

The tradition continues as Msgr. William F. Burke-Rockaway Council Knights of Columbus #2672 and Sister Columbiettes will hold their 95th Annual Communion Breakfast and Mass on Sunday, April 16.

The Knight’s and Columbiettes' Chaplain, Msgr. Richard J. Ahlemeyer, pastor of St. Camillus/ St. Virgilius Parish, will celebrate Mass at 8:30 a.m. at St. Camillus Church located on Beach 99th Street.

Immediately following Mass, a buffet breakfast will be served back at the Council which is located at 333 Beach 90th Street.

The Council’s Chaplain, along with Grand Knight Russ Hauk and Columbiette President Doreen Raftery, extends an invitation for all to attend this year’s celebration and help us keep this fine tradition going and to acknowledge those members listed below that will be honored at the breakfast.

Each year, the Knights recognizes a local organization for their

contributions to our community.

Breakfast Chairman DGK Mike Keller is pleased to announce that this year’s recipients are the Queens County Saint Patrick’s Day Parade committee led by Mike Benn and his dedicated team of volunteers.

The Knights will also present awards to the following members for their loyal and dedicated service to the Church and Council during the previous year.

Anne McGovern - Columbiette of the Year

William Riordan - Knight of the Year

Charlie Ciliberti - 2672 Club Man of the Year

Nominally priced tickets are available at the Council or reservations can be made by contacting the Knights at 718-634-3699.

The Rockaway Council Knights of Columbus was founded in 1928 and has been serving the Rockaway Community since its inception. With over 700 members, the Council is one of the largest and

most active councils in the New York area. The Rockaway Knights welcome all community groups and civic organizations to continue to use its venue to meet in a safe and hospitable place. The Council looks forward to serving our community for many more years to come.

The Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic fraternal service organization in the world. It was founded by Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut in 1882 to assist widows and children of the immigrant Catholic community. There are over 1.8 million members worldwide.

Thank you, Tom Morgan for leading the Graybeards for two successful terms as president of the organization. Good Luck to incoming president, Dan Leary, who is definitely up for the challenge!

Sean Fitzgerald

Direct 917-860-6701

Coastalfitz@gmail.com

Ellen May Esposito - Banks

646-209-2744 Licensed

Office: 718-318-5030

coastalrealestateny.com

Mary Beth Meade 347-426-8002 Licensed

Daniel Donahue 917-399-7188

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RENTED

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B. 146: 7BR, 7BA, jacuzzi, doublewide driveway & outdoor shower (LJ)

B. 123: Modern 2BR, 1Bath with loft, futon in LR, shared deck, yard & laundry (TC)

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Lic. Broker-Owner: Lisa Jackson Lic. Associate Brokers: Barbara Ferguson • Nia Casilla • Colleen Brady • Tracy Czik Lic. RE Agents: Joseph Magiera • Zachary Plattner • Carol Feintisch Samantha Benanti • Jack Brandes • Nicole Switzer

Hurricane Forecast is not very favorable this year! Everyone needs to get a flood policy!

Happy Passover

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Happy Easter

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Call Susan 347-260-3891

WONDERFUL PLACE TO CALL HOME

BH steps to beach, Extra large 3 bedrooms with a master suite, 2.5 baths, terrace plus spacious outdoor living to enjoy. Gorgeous eat in kitchen, large dining/ living room, lots of closets, lovely entrance-way with additional space to utilize as office, w/d & parking.

A Great set up to work from home! Pay all utilities. No pets........................................................$3,400

Call Susan 347-260-3891

Belle Harbor – One family with 4 bedrooms, 1.5 baths. eat in kitchen, dining area, wood burning fireplace, basement great size rooms, hard wood floors, deck, yard w/ patio area, garage.

One block to beach $975,000

BEAUTIFUL BRIGHT STUDIO COOP

IN CONTRACT $225,000

Call Bronagh 718-877-6324

To advertise in The Rockaway Times call 718-634-3030 · ads@RockawayTimes.com

Beach Block Legal Two Owner apartment, 2 or 3 bedrooms, renovated kitchen, large living room and dining room, semi finished basement with half bath. Rental apartment: 2 bedrooms, large living room with terrace, and bonus space on top floor, 3 extra rooms. $965,000

Call Kate 917-680-8051

Beach 120’s - extra large 1 bed, coop rental, hardwood floors throughout, new renovated kitchen. No pets. Pay electric $2300

Call Susan 347-260-3891

Beach 120’s – two bedroom, oceanfront w/terrace, no pets, pay electric. Available May 1st

Call Susan 347-260-3891

$2950

Associate Real Estate Broker

Rockaway Times Photo Contest

SUMMER EFFECTS

WHAT’S A POCKET LISTING?

difficult market. (Remember, brokers are obligated to “present” ALL offers to their sellers).

e summer season has mixed effects on the Rockaway real estate market. On the one hand, we are a beachfront community and the draw of the summer activities does bring people here for: beaches, swimming, cycling, running, surfing, organized teams for kids and adults (although the pandemic may crimp some of these this year; thankfully the “end” is in sight). On the other hand, some sellers are reluctant to sell during the summer because they enjoy the aforementioned activities and don’t

The pocket listing isn’t the best way to sell a property. It requires the broker to play “matchmaker” – which can be hard to do EXCEPT – I am good at it!  I have sold pocket listings and I have a few of them now. Give me a call.  Love, Robin.

It can be harder to sell real estate during the summer due to vacations by buyers and sellers alike. Summer activities can also occupy people instead of allowing them to focus on the home

The pocket listing is not a new invention. It can be described as a property which is not officially for sale. Then what is it? The seller does not want his house “on the market.” He/she wants to avoid the hassle of constantly showing the home – but,site or print advertising in order toker does not host any open houses at this listing. The seller is usually looking for a strong buyer who is ready to act fast. The seller is looking to avoid any low ball offers made by buyers looking for bargains in this

The Passover holiday began last night, April 5. It ends Thursday night, April 13. No work is permitted for the observant on April 6, 7, 12 and 13. Tomorrow is Good Friday and Easter Sunday is this Sunday, April 9. Happy Holidays to all!

e spring season has been generally good for our real estate marere has been action across the board in all price categories with an emphasis on the range below $1 million (approx). Prices rmed up within the framework of recent comparable sales and in some cases are creeping higher. Inventory levels remain very low. Call me, Love, Robin. 718-490-9463

our future is on the ballot

Facts You Probably D on’t Need

 For one week in 1994, Tim Allen had the number one movie at the box office (The Santa Claus), the number one TV show (Home Improvement), and the number one NY Times bestselling book (Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man).

 The Caesar Salad is named after Caesar Cardini, an Italian American hotel owner.

 Dung Beetles can navigate only when the Milky Way or clusters of bright stars are visible. They are the only insect known to orient itself by the galaxy.

 Chipotle peppers are just smoke-dried jalapeno peppers.

 Lego bricks are very consistent,

with only 18 bricks out of every 1,000,000 made being considered defective. The bricks manufactured today can also still interlock with those that were manufactured as far back as 1958.

 Pringles are not technically potato chips but actually a slurry of rice, wheat, corn and some potato flakes.

 Roughly 76% of Vietnamese people share only six surnames, with nearly 40% of them having the surname "Nguyen."

 Bandit, critic, dwindle, lackluster, and swagger were all words invented by Shakespeare.

Facts by Sean McVeigh, factologist.

NY 11697

Dear Enchantress,

I am so stuck on focusing on the negative. I know I should be grateful, and I try, but I spend my days in mind suffering land, with too many people texting and calling and wanting things or asking things or checking in and it makes me want to run away. I use gratitude for my house, roof on my head, food on my table etc.

I have OK days, so I don't think I'm capital D depressed, but I ain't right. I used to go to a therapist, but that made it worse, and now I do yoga, and meditate and do all these things but it's like I do them to get away from my mind that races and tortures me. Got any insight on how I can use gratitude better?

By Shane Kulman

Dear Sister,

I see the suffering you’re in, and what a big deal for you to have the energy to take the action to write to me. This Dear Enchantress will help many, so I want you to know you are already headed in the right direction because there are many folks who couldn't muster up the energy or awareness to reach out. Good for doing all the yoga and meditation, those things are the RIGHT things. Next, let's play with the gratitude. The big things like gratitude for having a roof over your head and food on the table, are basic needs or rather survival type things. If you didn't have them, it would

A BLISSFUL LIFE byJenniferKelleher

Breath

We are born with this thing called ‘breath’. Breath grants us life. It is the ticket to this human experience. Yet, how often do you stop to think about it? Besides just keeping us alive, the breath is an incredible tool that can be intentionally used in various ways to achieve different energetic states. For today, let’s keep it simple and foundational, focusing on diaphragmatic breathing.

Our bodies, minds, and energy are optimized when we receive the breath fully. Breathing down into our diaphragm (also known as “belly breathing”) encourages a clear, balanced,

affect your safety. While these are good, they can trigger the fact that you’re ONLY giving credit to basic needs. Doing yoga and meditation are bigger than basic, having the internet is more than survival. So, let's play here. I'm going to give you small, tiny things to be grateful for to start off your mindset around gratitude to use it in a more abundant way that will have more of an impact on how you feel.

1. Take time to feel the sun and note how it feels on your skin.

2. Enjoy a hot shower, slowly.

3. Sip your coffee when it's at the exact right temperature.

4. Get your eyeballs up close to a flower and see the perfection of it.

5. Enjoy using something up in your home, finishing something.

6. Draw faces on your eggs.

7. Tidy up a corner of your home.

8. Take a nap in the middle of the day.

9. Make a list of things you enjoy doing.

10. Take a bath in the dark.

correctly and fully when your abdomen, sides, and back expand outward on the inhale, and come together on the exhale. The chest moves only slightly. It may help to visualize it like a balloon— when you fill the balloon with air (inhale), it expands, and when you let the air out (exhale), it deflates.

So why is belly breathing important? First and foremost, breath is life! You cut off your vitality when you do not breathe fully.

These are ten things to do and to inspire you to take actions that are free and possible right now. You might want to hang this list on the refrigerator, or your bathroom mirror. You will also want to put them in your date book or calendar, so you make sure they actually happen.

If you have a question for Enchantress Shane, you can ask her at

Love@enchantedembodiment. com

calm, and happy state. Yet 99% of my clients come to me as chest breathers, constricting the belly area and preventing the diaphragm from expanding and contracting freely.

I invite you to try it now. Take a deep inhale, and slow exhale. On your inhale: Does your belly expand out, stay put, or draw in? Do your chest and shoulders rise up toward your ears, or remain fairly still? On your exhale: Does your belly move out, in, or not at all? Can you feel a natural and subtle contraction of your pelvic floor and deep abdominal muscles?

Simply put, you are belly breathing

Furthermore, belly breathing: (1) reduces stress, along with stress’ many negative side effects and symptoms; (2) stabilizes energy levels; (3) is the most efficient way to breathe, delivering optimum amounts of oxygen and nutrients to the body’s cells and removing them of waste; (4) relaxes muscle spasms and eases muscular tension; (5) slows the heart rate and helps to stabilize blood pressure; (6) encourages the body to let go of excess fat; (7) improves core muscle strength and stability; (8) increases athletic performance, while decreasing chances of injury; (9) strengthens the immune system; and (10) increases mental clarity and brain function.

As always, change starts with aware-

ness and intention. To begin, I recommend five to 10 minutes of focused belly breathing in the morning and evening.

How to: Lie on your back with a pillow supporting your head. Bend your knees, allowing them to knock together, with the soles of your feet on the floor slightly wider than your hips. Place one hand on your belly and the other on your chest. Imagine your belly is a balloon. Inhale through your nostrils. As the air comes in, allow it to fill up the balloon in your belly, inflating the front, back, and sides of your body. Feel the hand on your belly rise on the inhale. Exhale slowly through your mouth. Imagine the balloon deflating as the air leaves your body. Feel the hand on your belly fall. The hand on your chest remains fairly still throughout this entire exercise. Continue for five to 10 minutes.

Repeat morning and evening.

Yoga is a practice paired with the breath. We invite you to join us at Ocean Bliss Yoga Studio for daily classes and monthly workshops intentionally designed to improve your body and life.

Sign up at oceanblissyoga.net.

PAW PRINTS byTerriEstes

THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER

The Golden Retriever was recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1925. Males are slightly larger than females averaging 23 to 24 inches at the shoulder and weighing 65 to 75 lbs. to females’ average of 21 to 22 inches and 55 to 65 lbs. All Golden Retrievers are gold in color. Some are lighter and some are darker, but as the name implies, they are all gold. The breed was developed in Scotland in the 1850s as a birddog but is mainly bred for companionship today.

Known for their friendly, gentle and loyal personalities, they are one of the

most popular dog breeds in the world. They are very social dogs that enjoy the company of humans and other pets. They are outgoing and greet everyone with a wagging tail and a smile. Goldens have an energetic nature and love to play, swim and hike. Although they have a lot of energy, they also have a calm, easy-going nature and a relaxed demeanor. These qualities give them a comforting presence and make them great therapy dogs.

Goldens are very intelligent, trainable dogs. Because they are quick learners, they are often used as service dogs. They can be taught complex

and varied tasks to assist people with disabilities, while providing comfort and companionship at the same time. They also make great emotional support companions for people with PTSD and other mental health disorders.

Living with a Golden is like always having your own personal cheerleader by your side. They have such a happy and positive outlook on life and are agreeable to just about anything. You want to go for a swim? Absolutely! How about a hike? Let’s go! Oh, you just want to lay on the couch and watch Dirty Dancing? That sounds perfect—says the happiest breed in the world! There is also nothing cuter in the whole world than a Golden Retriever puppy. They simply melt your heart. As a matter of fact, there is absolutely nothing negative that I can say about the Golden Retriever! Umm, oh wait, I forgot one small issue.

Did I mention their beautiful golden double coat? Yup, they shed… A LOT. You may read that they only shed twice a year, and that may be true, but from personal experience, the two times of year that they shed are from January to June and July to December. You can

brush them and bathe them and take them to the groomer every two weeks. You can even shave them (which is not recommended), but you will still have golden hairs on your black pants and on your best navy-blue blazer. But that is the ONLY issue. I promise! They are generally a healthy breed and if you decide to choose a Golden, they really will be your best friend.

ANIMAL FUN FACT:

A single elephant tooth can weigh as much as nine pounds!

A Farmers Market for the Rockaways

by S. C. Samoy, RISE Director of Operations & Communications

RISE (Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity) is ramping up for its second season of Rockaway Market Street @ Beach 60th, in response to years of hearing from folks wanting their own outdoor farmers market on the peninsula. The Rockaways consist of eleven neighborhoods with over 125,000 residents and significant levels of food insecurity, particularly in Far Rockaway, Edgemere, and Hammels.

With limited access to fresh vegetables and healthy food options, a market venue for local farmers, food producers, and artisans offer job opportunities for people and a place to bring neighbors together with the goal of supporting the health and wellness of our community!

This year, the farmers market will operate on Saturdays,

10 a.m. to 1 p.m., from June 10 through October 28. Live musicians will complement the celebratory vibe under the elevated A train tracks at Beach 60th Street.

Returning vendors include Rockaway Drinks, Blacksmith’s

Breads, Edgemere Farm, Mushroom Queens, Rockaway Microgreens, and Saratoga Peanut Butter Company. Those interested in joining should go to riserockaway.org and click on Programs, Community, and Rockaway Market Street.

Special thanks to the following funding partners: Alfresco NYC, Hester Street/Surdna Foundation Radical Imagination for Racial Justice initiative, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Cultural Development Fund, and New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs & Mustard Balsamic Glaze

Add the chicken and toss until fully coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.

By Sharon Feldman

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless skinless, chicken thighs

• 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard

• ½ cup balsamic vinegar

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 2 tablespoons rosemary

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• Salt and pepper to taste (I used sea salt)

Put chicken and remaining marinade on a lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes until chicken is no longer pink. Serve and enjoy! Find

Directions: Combine the mustard, balsamic, garlic, rosemary, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Pour into a zip lock bag or plastic container.

100th Precinct Egg Hunt

On Saturday, April 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., head to the Beach 108th hockey rink for the 100th Precinct’s Easter egg hunt. Bring a basket to collect treats, meet the Easter bunny and more. Recommended for ages 12 and under.

Easter on the Boardwalk

On Sunday, April 9 at 11 a.m., House on the Rock Church is hosting Easter on the Boardwalk at Beach 94th Street. Join in the plaza for live music, encouraging words, an Easter egg roll for the kids and free candy for all.

Jamaica Bay Jr. Ranger Hike

On Tuesday, April 11 at 10:30 a.m., head to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge for a guided walk around one of the trails and learn what it takes to become a Jr. Ranger! Children will use their senses to explore. Program followed by an official Jr. Ranger “swearing-in” ceremony. This is an all-weather walk, so dress for the conditions. Space is limited. Please register by calling 718-318-4340.

Community Board 14

On Tuesday, April 11 at 7:15 p.m., head to the Knights of Columbus (333 Beach 90th Street) for CB14’s next monthly meeting. Sign up before the meeting for public speaking.

Morning Moves at RISE

On Mondays at 11 a.m., head to the RISE Center (58-03 Rockaway Beach Blvd.) to join Ann Fosteris’ Fitness to You class. Masks required inside RISE.

JASA Weekly Yoga

On Mondays at 11 a.m. and Fridays at 11:30 a.m., adults 60+ are welcome to JASA Rockaway Park Older Adult Center (106-20 Shore Front Parkway) for weekly Yoga with Cynthia. Open to Adults 60 +. To register, call: 718-6343044.

JASA Weekly Arts

On Thursdays at 10 a.m., adults 60+ are welcome to JASA Rockaway Park Older Adult Center (106-20 Shore Front Parkway) for weekly painting/

arts and crafts. Let your creativity be free! To RSVP and for more details, call: 718-634-3044.

Core on the Floor

On Mondays from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., head to the RISE Center (58-03 Rockaway Beach Blvd.) for a free core and lower body class with Ann Fosteris of Fitness to You. All are welcome! Bring a mat. Masks required inside RISE.

Chair Movement Class

On Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., head to Temple Beth-El (201 Beach 121st Street) and breathe, balance, move and stretch in this chair yoga class led by Christine Walker. Donation based.

Chair Yoga

On Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m., certified yoga instructor Ruth Graves offers a FREE chair yoga class at RISE (5803 Rockaway Beach Blvd.). Beginners to seasoned practitioners--and

everyone in between--are invited. Masks are required inside RISE.

Cardio Punch

On Saturdays at 11 a.m., head to Seaside Library (116-15 Rockaway Beach Blvd.) to join for a total body, non-contact workout fit for all levels. Punch, hook, and kick to motivating, high-energy music that progress into heart-pumping combinations. Through April 1.

Free Classes, Spring Semester

Free classes at the Peninsula Adult Leaning Center, Queens Library (92-25 Rockaway Beach Blvd. ) begin April 17. GED (High School Equivalency), YALP (Young Adult Literacy Program, 16-24),  ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), Citizenship, Adult Basic Education, Art and Tech Workshops. Register now. Email: Peninsulalearning@gmail.com or call: 718-945-7058

Got events? Send an email to katie@rockawaytimes.com with details for consideration to be listed.

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

Linmar’s Educational Tutoring Center

LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/7/2023. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 223-36 106th Ave., Queens Village, NY 11429. General Purpose.

CURAM HOME CARE, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/20/23. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, c/o Kathleen Hayden, 88-57 Rutledge Avenue, Glendale, NY 11385. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of Clique Studios NYC LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on August 2, 2022 Office location: Queens County, NY. SSNY is designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC to 144-15 243rd Street, Rosedale NY 11422. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

AIRA REAL ESTATE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 05/22/2019. Office location: QUEENS County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 104-60 QUEENS BLVD # 20C, FOREST HILLS, NY, UNITED STATES, 11375. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

JUNOMRJ PROPERTIES LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/23/2023. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Yury Tsadyk, 6846 Juno Street, Forest Hills, NY 11375. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Formation of PEEK A BOO EI LLC, Articles of Organization Filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/22/2022. Office location: Queens, NY. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 141-28 71st Avenue, Flushing NY 11367. Any lawful purpose.

Stonze LLC filed w/ SSNY on 2/21/23. Office: Queens Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 21846 82nd Ave., Queens Village, NY 11427. Purpose: any lawful.

Notice of Formation of RemoteAir Hvac LLC, Articles of Organization Filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on March 15, 2023. Office location: Queens, NY. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to RemoteAir LLC, 3110 75th St, East Elmhurst, NY 11370. Any lawful purpose.

14-20 130 STREET LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/30/23. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 55 Bregman Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

TERRA CONSTRUCT MGMT LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/10/2023. Office loc: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 41-63 71st Street, Woodside, NY 11377. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

144 Sheridan Ave LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/27/2022. Cty: Queens. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Dragisa Fljankovic, 156-51 78th St., Howard Beach, NY 11414. General Purpose

Notice of Formation of ALPHABET GROUP LLC Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 06/21/2022. Office location: QUEENS County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 13211 101ST AVE, FL 2, SOUTH RICHMOND HILL, NY, UNITED STATES, 11419 Purpose: Any lawful activity.

SILVER YOUNG HOLDINGS LLC Articles of Org. filed with NY Sec. of State (SSNY) on 03/18/2023. Office in Queens Co. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 136-20 38th Avenue, Suite 3A-1, Flushing, NY 11354 Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of JRPP LLC, Articles of Organization Filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY) on 4/3/2023. Office location: Queens, NY. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to JRPP LLC, 8302 Cornish Ave Apt 3D, Elmhurst, NY 11373. Any lawful purpose.

Classi fi eds

Pursuant to the lien granted by the New York Self-Storage Facility Act, notice is hereby given that the undersigned self-storage units will be sold at a public sale by competitive bidding, to satisfy the lien of the Lessor, with Metro Storage LLC as managing agent for Lessor, for rental and other charges due from the undersigned. The said property has been stored and is located at the respective address below. Units up for auction will be listed for public bidding on-line at www.StorageTreasures.com beginning five days prior to the scheduled auction date and time. The terms of the sale will be by lot to the highest bidder for cash only. A 10-15% buyer’s premium will be charged per unit. All sales are final. Metro Self Storage LLC reserves the right to withdraw any or all units, partial or entire, from the sale at any time before the sale or to refuse any bids. The property to be sold is described as “general household items” unless otherwise noted. All contents must be removed completely from the property within 48 hours or sooner or are deemed abandoned by bidder/buyer. Sale rules and regulations are available at the time of sale.

The bidding will close on the website StorageTreasures.com and a high bidder will be selected on 4/26/23 at 1:00pm.

Answer: 404

From 1-100 there are 19 numbers that do contain the digit 5 (5,15, 25, 35, 45,65, 75, 85, 95 and all of the numbers in the 50's (50, 51, 52...)

The same is true for 101-200, 201-300, 301-400 so 4x19=76. There are 20 from 401-500, since 500 contains a 5. 500-76-20=404

Sara Ramsay 3277 Clothing, Suitcase Daniyar Sanakulov 4424 Boxes, Suitcase, Car Mats, Buckets, Kit

Grandmother Convicted in Death of Daughter’s Boyfriend

A Far Rockaway grandmother has been convicted in the 2020 death of her daughter’s boyfriend. On Monday, April 3, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Suzette Olin was convicted of manslaughter for her role in the death of Shaka Ifill, her daughter’s boyfriend and the father of her daughter’s newborn. Ifill was shot once in the back while in his Woodhaven home.

District Attorney Katz said: “The jury convicted this defendant in the cold-blooded death of the father of her grandchild. She is being held to account.” Olin, 68, of Redfern Avenue, Far Rockaway, was convicted by a jury on March 31 in Queens Supreme Court of manslaughter in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. She faces a sentence of up to 25 years in prison by Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pan -

dit-Durant on May 9.

According to the trial testimony, On July 26, 2020, at approximately 2 p.m., an upstairs neighbor of Ifill’s on 91st Avenue heard a commotion in his apartment and, a few minutes later, walked downstairs and found his door open. Ifill was on the floor with a gunshot wound to his back. The neighbor called 911 and when police arrived, the 40-year-old Ifill told them he was dying and that his girlfriend’s mother shot him. He was taken to Jamaica Hospital and later pronounced dead, the bullet having hit several major organs and blood vessels.

Security camera video showed a woman who appeared to be smoking a cigarette get out of an AccessA-Ride car service vehicle near Ifill’s home at about 1:51 p.m. and then leave the home at 2:01 p.m. The woman was identified

as Olin and a DNA test of a cigarette butt found in the apartment was linked to her.

An investigation revealed that three days before the shooting,

Olin’s daughter filed a domestic incident report with police alleging Ifill broke a door in their apartment. Police responded, and bodycam footage showed the broken door. The girlfriend did not appear to be injured. Olin was arrested on Sept. 18, 2020.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Gregory Lasak of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau and Ryan Licciardello of Felony Trial Bureau III prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Peter McCormack III and John W. Kosinski, Senior Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and Karen Ross, Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.

Criminal complaints and indictments are accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

New Community Board Members Announced

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards has announced the 2023 class of community board appointees, who will serve on their respective boards for the next two years.

According to a press release, of the Borough President’s 366 appointees across Queens’ 14 community boards, 116 are new members who are not currently serving on a board — the highest-ever number of new appointees tapped to serve under the Richards Administration. The 366 appointees were chosen out of this year’s pool of 938 applicants, just three short of the borough’s record of 941 applications in a single year, set in 2021.

“The historic 2023 class of community board appointees represent the best of Queens. I’m immensely confident in this diverse, dedicated and determined group of public servants and I look forward to the great work they will do on behalf of their neighborhoods over the course of their term,” said Borough President Richards. “Thank you to all 366 of our appointees, and especially to our 116 new members, for heeding the

call to help create a stronger Queens for all 2.4 million people who call it home.”

Since taking office in December 2020, Borough President Richards has made significant progress in correcting the chronic, long-standing underrepresentation of numerous communities and demographics on Queens’ 14 boards. Of the 116 new members, 50 percent are under the age of 45, and nearly 25 percent are between the ages of 16 and 35, reflecting the growing interest in board membership among Queens’ younger generations, as well as Borough President Richards’ steadfast efforts to promote the importance of community service amongst the borough’s teenagers and young adults. Prior to the Richards Administration, nearly three-quarters of all board members were over the age of 45.

The Borough President’s push to ensure each board looks, sounds and feels like the diverse communities they represent received yet another boost with this year’s class, as well. Of the 116 new members, 20.7 percent iden-

tify as Hispanic/Latinx — an increase of nearly four percent from last year’s group of new members. Meanwhile, African Americans make up 21.6 percent of new appointees in 2023, with 13.8 percent and 7.8 percent identifying as East Asian/Pacific Islander and South Asian, respectively. Over twothirds (67.22 percent) or new appointees do not identify as “White.” Prior to the Richards Administration, just 43 percent of board members identified as female. This year, 44.8% are female.

There are 59 community boards citywide, and each hold monthly full membership meetings. The boards also hold hearings and issue recommendations about the City budget, municipal service delivery and numerous other matters that impact their communities. All Queens community board members are appointed by the Queens Borough President, pursuant to the City Charter, with at least half of the appointments nominated by the City Council Members representing their respective community districts. Each board has up to 50 unsalaried

members, with each member serving a two-year term. All community board members who wish to continue serving on a board are required to reapply at the conclusion of their two-year term.

Borough President Richards’ appointments for the 2023-2025 term for Rockaway’s Community Board 14, representing Rockaway Point, Breezy Point, Roxbury, Neponsit, Belle Harbor, Rockaway Park, Seaside, Broad Channel, Hammels, Sommerville, Edgemere, Arverne, Bayswater, Wavecrest, Far Rockaway and Rockaway Beach, are: Danielle Barker, Ebony Beaty, Lailah Boyd, Natasha Carter, Kimberly Comes, John Cori, Gerald David, Rose Marie Duggan Gulston, Iona Folkes, Jeanette Garramone, Chamaine Gibbs, Eugenia Gibson, Yitzchok Goldstone, Shanell Harper, Samuel Jaroslawicz, Alison Kase, Paul King, Richard Knott, Damra Lee, Denise Lopresti, Lintia Lyons, Jonathan Mack, Nancy Martinez, John McCambridge, Nyjeri Norman, Isaac Parsee, David Rood-Ojalvo, Colin Smith and Karen Sloan Payne.

Shaka Ifill

Life With Our “Artistic” Child

By Kami-Leigh Agard

Autism ‘Awareness’

Vs. Autism ‘Acceptance’

“What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.” Four centuries ago, when William Shakespeare penned these lines in the classic, “Romeo and Juliet,” the inference is that names are a convention to distinguish things or people, but do not have any worth or meaning. However, for some advocates in the autism community, a name means a hell of a lot—thus the push for April to be recognized as Autism Acceptance Month as opposed to Autism Awareness Month. As an Autistic self-advocate wrote in her blog, “Neurodivergent Rebel,”: “Being aware of something is not the same as taking action. ‘Autism Awareness’ is minimal in that it doesn’t move further into taking steps as to what’s needed to include, empower, and accept autistic people…Most people are aware of autism now and know autistic people exist. However, many people still fail to understand what it means to be autistic.”

The observance of Autism Awareness Month dates back to the early 1970s, when scientist, Dr. Bernard Rimland, a father with a son on the autism spectrum, founded the Autism Society of America (ASA), now the world’s largest autism organization. Frustrated by the lack of information and services available for people with autism, in 1972, Rimland with fellow autism advocates, organized the first autism awareness event, “Autism Sunday.” This soon evolved into National Autistic Children’s Week. A decade lat-

Month

er, in 1985, Congress officially recognized National Autism Week, which then led to President Ronald Reagan issuing the first-ever presidential proclamation, declaring April as National Autism Awareness Month. Since then, every U.S. president has issued a proclamation recognizing Autism Awareness Month.

Fast-forward to 2008, the United Nations designated April 2 as World Autism Day. Then-U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proclaimed, “I welcome this growing international chorus of voices calling for action to enable children and persons with autism to lead full and meaningful lives. This is not a far-off dream; it is a reality that can be attained by promoting positive perceptions about autism as well as a greater social understanding.”

The national push to change the name of the observance from “awareness” to “acceptance," was driven by Paula C. Durbin-Westby, an autistic disability rights activist with an autistic son, who demanded a “corrective to the negative images of autism in ‘awareness’ campaigns.” On April 1, 2011, she organized the first Autism Acceptance Day celebration. Through the influential channels of social media, it quickly became popular and expanded to Autism Acceptance Month in the Autistic community as participants spread the word through Facebook and other platforms.

I recently conducted a poll on the Rockaway Beach Autism Families Facebook group page to see

which moniker, “Autism Awareness” or “Autism Acceptance” members preferred. Seventy-four percent voted for “Autism Acceptance.” Others suggested, “Autism Empowerment,” “Kindness for Autism,” and even “Love for All Special Needs People.”

I’ll go back to Shakespeare’s line, “What’s in a name…” Not too long ago, when I was in the novice stage of autism parent advocacy, I was buying every box of blue lights I could get my hands on, encouraging people to light it up blue; upholding the controversial puzzle piece, as if it was the holy emblem of the autism community, not unlike what the crucifix symbolizes for Christians. However, today with education and continuing exposure to the vastness of the autism spectrum, I’m increasingly understanding how each individual’s and family’s needs and strengths are so unique and personal, like a fingerprint. So, whether it’s autism awareness, acceptance, inclusion, empowerment—I believe they all express the same sentiment. The

autism community needs support, respect, love and opportunities for advancement, and April 30 is not the expiration date. Just as our triumphs and challenges evolve every day, so do our needs for purposeful lives.

On Sunday, April 23 at 11 a.m., join Rockaway Beach Autism Families at Rockaway’s first-ever Walk for Autism on the boardwalk! Walk kicks off at Beach 96th Street and the boardwalk and ends at Beach 126th Street. For more information, visit: Rockaway Beach Autism Families on Facebook/ Instagram or visit: rockawaybeachautismfamilies.org.

Ask the DOC

By Peter Galvin, MD

Raw Fish Bacteria

It has long been known that eating raw fish, especially raw shellfish, is never a good idea (with apologies to sushi aficionados). The reason is because of the potential infectious diseases that may be transmitted by raw shellfish. Raw shellfish has been known to carry viruses like hepatitis. Another infectious agent is carried by raw fish is known by the genus Vibrio, of which there are three types that can infect humans – Vibrio cholerae, parahaemolyticus, and vulnificus. All three bacteria can cause severe watery diarrhea and fever, V cholerae being the causative agent of cholera. Typically, bacteria of

the Vibrio genus live in salt water and cannot tolerate fresh water, however V vulnificus is usually found in brackish water (a mix of salt and fresh water, i.e., the Hudson becomes brackish a few miles north of the Tappan Zee bridge). About 100 cases per year of V vulnificus are reported in the U.S., however people with mild disease are usually not tested, so the actual number of cases is unknown. New Orleans saw a large outbreak of V vulnificus following Hurricane Katrina. In the U.S., the mortality rate associated with V vulnificus is approximately 33%, and it causes about 95% of seafood-related deaths.

V vulnificus can cause both diarrheal illness and wound infections (if broken skin is exposed to contaminated water or seafood). It is found in warm coastal regions around the world. It is rarely detected in water colder than 13 degrees Celsius (55.4 degrees F), so most U.S. infections occur between the months of May and October. Hurricanes, storm surges, and coastal flooding are associated with an increase in V vulnificus infections. People become infected by eating raw or undercooked seafood (primarily oysters, less commonly other shellfish or other fish) or by having an open wound that is exposed to seawater or contaminated seafood products. Typical symptoms include diarrhea for several days, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramping, fever, and chills. Those with severe infections (typically people with compromised immune systems) may develop a bloodstream infection (sepsis), which may be life-threatening. V vulnificus wound infections may cause skin redness, warmth, swelling, and pain (cellulitis) in an affected area. A severe skin infection may cause muscle and wide-spread tissue destruction. Those most at risk for severe V vulnifi-

cus infections include those with liver disease (i.e., cirrhosis), cancer, HIV, diabetes, or certain blood disorders (thalassemia). Also, at risk are those who take immunosuppressants or medications to decrease stomach acid. Diagnosis is made by detecting V vulnificus in blood, stool, or wound culture. Those with mild symptoms are urged to drink liquids and stay hydrated. Those with more severe infections should receive antibiotics and be closely monitored, often involving hospitalization. Prevention of food-related V vulnificus infection involves avoidance of ingesting raw or undercooked seafood and the use of gloves and careful handwashing after handling raw seafood. Those with open wounds (including recent surgery, piercings, and tattoos) should avoid contact with brackish water (swimming, fishing, and wading) and should not handle raw seafood. Wounds or cuts that have been exposed to brackish water or uncooked seafood should be washed thoroughly with soap and water to decrease the risk of infection.

For more information go to www. cdc.gov

Please direct questions and comments to editor@rockawaytimes.com

Rockawave Volleyball Dominates On and Off the Court

understanding of the parental sacrifices that are made so that each athlete can grow and reach their greatest potential!" While some athletes and parents chose the training-only option, McGoldrick-Raico was able to create five competitive teams to travel—the 12U SURF, 13U SURF and 13U SWIM, 15U SURF, and 17U SURF teams.

Rockawave Volleyball is proving that "teamwork makes the dreamwork" and the success of this team of young female athletes is taking on a life of its own in the volleyball training and club world. Rockawave Volleyball Training Academy (RVT), in its inaugural season, has proven itself to be not only an affordable training experience, but also one of the most successful in developing all around talent, athletic intelligence, and a healthy winning spirit, on and off the court!

The program is run by Marie McGoldrick-Raico, her longtime assistant Lauren Ganun, Brian Bagley, her sister Regina Sellitto, and an extraordinarily talented youth-filled coaching staff whose volleyball resumes are loaded with success on all levels. Nearly the entire staff was raised playing volleyball on the peninsula. McGoldrick-Raico brings 38 years of player and coaching experience at the highest level to the gym. She is a former three sport High School varsity athlete, Division I - two sport Hall of Fame college athlete, Division I college coach, and winning club volleyball coach. McGoldrick-Raico is also the Head Coach of Xaverian High School's undefeated City champions and State finalist varsity and junior varsity City champion volleyball teams. She is the founder of Sand Sistas (West End) Volleyball training that has been working with young ladies on their sand and indoor game for eight years.

McGoldrick-Raico is most proud of the staff she has built with equally impressive resumes, and athletes she says, “she feels privileged to work with every day”. Four current Division I athletes began their careers training with Coach Raico. Countless athletes who have trained are also committed to their academic success. “Playing multiple sports at the highest level was a true gift, and it left me with the greatest friends, memories and lessons to last a lifetime,” she said. “The desire to build a culture that nurtures the student and the athlete on and off the court, while sharing some of the greatest lessons that I have learned, is the founding principle of training, which is rooted in teamwork every time an athlete steps in the gym.”

The volleyball world can be expensive and intense. "The running joke is that parents shouldn't have to sell their kidney for a meaningful learning and competitive experience. We created a highly competitive and relatively affordable experience for athletes who wanted to grow their volleyball skill set, while allowing time to cross-train in other sports. Our mission was to train the technical aspects of the game while enhancing a volleyball 'IQ' that would strengthen the athletes’ individual strategic and psychological approach to winning, on and off the court. We pride ourselves on being a program rooted in the love for teamwork, and an appreciation and

Like anything new, it came with a certain level of trepidation. While some days were two steps forward and one step back, the coaching staff knew they had a great group of athletes to work with and they were thrilled to set the bar high. Starting with regional tournaments in early January, the “new club” experience provided RVT with wonderful lessons. All teams saw a measured level of success, learning and growing from that experience. With a great taste of what was needed to succeed, when they returned from that tournament, they hit the gym ready to work harder than ever.

The teams began the local Garden Empire Volleyball Association (GEVA) tournaments with a winning attitude that never stopped! So far, the 12U SURF team has won all three of their GEVA tournaments and has a record of 15-0, which places them among top five teams in the region; the 13U SWIM is 19-0 and 13U SURF is 16-3 which places them both top ten in the region. Between the two, they competed in three “All Rockawave Finals.” Team SWIM has four GEVA tournament first place finishes, and SURF has one finals victory. The 13U SURF team had a dominant scrimmage win over SWIM in an intrasquad competition that is not reflected in overall GEVA record; 15U SURF has a current record of 16-5, which is good for top 15 in the region; 17U SURF, of which nearly the entire team plays up a full age group, finished the season 10-6 in all tightly contested matches, and places them 23rd in the entire region.

What’s up next for RVT? The

entire club will descend on Atlantic City to compete in the Boardwalk Block Party tournament on April 21. From there, Sand Sistas will begin training and travel in 2 vs. 2 National Qualifying tournaments. One exciting addition to the training experience is in conjunction with Brian Bagley, Chris Scandole and Greg Gentile, Raico has created an opportunity for young boys to begin training. Sand Brohs will hit the sand in early May.

Perhaps Raico is most proud of what the RVT community has committed to doing off the court. "Our mission is 'To be Good at Volleyball, but Great at Life.' The girls poured the same energy and intensity to this cause that they do on the court in their game plans. Together, with the help and support of Father Jim, we created a service project called 'Seniors See the World.'" They hope to use the power of teamwork to raise enough money to send two senior citizens, one from Rockaway and from Breezy Point, on a trip of a lifetime with Father Jim Cunningham to England and Scotland in March of 2024. Additional funds will be donated to The Mickey and Dee Charitable Foundation, which supports and affects change for the entire senior community. Look for the RVT girls around town working hard to achieve their goal.

If you have any interest in indoor training with RVT or training on the sand with the Sistas or the Brohs, or are interested in joining the coaching staff, send an email to rockawavevolleyballacademy@gmail.com.

ST. CAMILLUS / ST. VIRGILIUS BASKETBALL MVPs OF THE PLAYOFFS

Dakota Duffy was nothing short of amazing. She completely took over the game even though she was playing against an excellent firstplace team. She scored an incredible 27 points out of the team total of 38. She did absolutely everything she could to bring her team victory. A victory that would have been the biggest upset of the season. How-

ever, in the end, her team ended up losing in a heartbreaker by one point on a thrilling buzzer beater.

Carmelo Santiago is a dynamo. He flies around the court with relentless energy and gets involved in almost every play. He is the kind of player every coach loves to have on their team. As usual, he was the General of his team, handling the

Congratulations, April Fools

tel in celebration of turning 40 two days earlier. Shortly after the guests arrived for the birthday bash, Pat and his lady, Kara Yankay, disappeared for a quick outfit change and dropped a major surprise on the guests. This wasn’t just a birthday party—it was their wedding!

The happy couple were married at the Hotel and danced the night away with their friends and family.

They’ll never forget that anniversary. Congratulations to Pat and his beautiful bride, Kara!

ball and running the offense. To top things off, he knocked down a critical three-point shot in the last quarter that was just enough to lead his team to a three-point victory and send them into the finals.

Riley Bishop did what he does week in and week out. He dominated another game. His shot from beyond the arc is so pure; it is a joy

to watch. However, make no mistake, this is not his only talent. Riley is an all-around player, and he excels in every aspect of the game. He led his team to another win, scoring 30 out of their total of 68 points. Keep an eye on Riley. This is a young man who is going to do great things in his ongoing basketball career.

Congrats, Kathleen and Tim

marriage. On Tuesday, April 4, after 30 years together, the happy couple made their way to Mt. Carmel Baptist Church for a simple afternoon wedding ceremony led by Pastor Debra White. These soulmates exchanged Irish wedding bands and officially tied the knot!

We don’t know if anyone can top Pat Brady’s epic April Fool’s prank but it sure was a good one. On Saturday, April 1, Patrick Brady, known to many as one of Rockaway’s best bartenders, had invited about 300 of his friends and family to The Rockaway Ho -

Speaking of weddings, congratulations to Kathleen O’Rourke and Tim Moriarty on their recent

Kathleen O’Rourke is a local artist and Tim Moriarty is a local photographer who regularly contributes to The Rockaway Times’ Local Color section and is right on the beat when it comes to some local news events. This week, he even won second place from the New York Press Association for Spot News Photo for his photo of surfers rescuing a whale, that was featured on the cover of the paper in December. A marriage and an award all in one week! Congrats, Tim and his beautiful bride, Kathleen!

Dakota Duffy Girls League

Carmelo Santiago Junior Boys League

Riley Bishop Senior Boys League

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 The Rockaway Times

ROCKAWAY GOOD TIMES

By Kami-Leigh Agard

Readers—with Memorial Day Weekend less than two months away—the feverish anticipation for beach days is at a high pitch. So, spring your Rockaway Good Times crawl with our weekly entertainment roundup below! Happy Easter!

LIVE MUSIC

FRIDAY, April 7 6 p.m.

Kick off your weekend with sunset views at Bungalow Bar as Barry Waller belts some acoustic classic and soft rock tunes.

377 Beach 92nd Street

FRIDAY, April 7

6:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

Where in NYC can you get Uzbek food with a legit urban surfer vibe? Rockaway Uma’s! And tonight—surfing jazz maestro, Simon Chardiet, jams intimate and sultry modern jazz for your dining and listening pleasure!

92-07 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

FRIDAY, April 7 9 p.m.

Make Friday night your Anthem night of legit rock classics at the Belle Harbor Yacht Club’s Upstairs Lounge.

533 Beach 126th Street

SATURDAY, April 8 4 p.m.

Chris Decker is back at The Sugar Bowl jammin’ sweet acoustic tunes.

15 Bedford Ave, Breezy Point

SATURDAY, April 8 5 p.m.

The Rockaway Tiki Bar’s Saturday music series presents, Bombzr. Get ready for a mashup of a very traditional take on funk and R&B with a 70s vibe. As reviewed by the “Music Connection,” “think Kool & The Gang and Chic with a bit of Detroit Spinners thrown in for good measure.”

67-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

SATURDAY, April 8

6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Savor West Indian Island vibes at Dred Surfer’s “Caribbean Soiree” every Saturday, featuring seafood and drink specials, plus, reggae vibrations by Eyes A Bleed. Rain or shine. Free entry.

Beach 17th Concession

SATURDAY, April 8

8 p.m. to midnight

Calling the Jack Pack! Don’t miss Uncle Jack’s Band ringing in your Easter weekend Rockaway style at RBQ!

97-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

SATURDAY, April 8

9 p.m.

Don’t miss Patti Blue and The Boys as they make their debut at Rogers.

203 Beach 116th Street

SATURDAY, April 8

What’s on the menu tonight at Kennedy’s? Divine sunset views, food, bevies and music by the Songbirds. Call (718) 945-0202 for showtime and reservations.

406 Bayside, Breezy Point

ONGOING

Motivation MONDAYS

7:30 p.m.

Think you’re smarter than your friends. Find out at Rockaway Tiki Bar’s Trivia Mondays. For weekly themes, follow: @ rockawaytikibar on Instagram.

67-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

Wine WEDNESDAYS

7 p.m.

Channel your inner Spice Girl at Rockaway Tiki Bar’s karaoke night.

67-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Bask in an evening of rhythmic storytelling with Ireland’s Cork-born renowned folk songsmith, Niall Connolly at Sayra’s.

91-11 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

Thirsty THURSDAYS

6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Thursday night is Ladies Night at Dred Surfer Bar and Grill. So, come let your hair down, drink some punch and enjoy delish food specials.

Beach 17th Concession

8 p.m.

DJ Baroque boasts one of the most enviable record collections known and unknown within the funk and soul scene, so tonight, don’t miss him spinning at The Rose Den.

174 Beach 116th Street

Selfie SATURDAYS

8 p.m. to Midnight

French-Mediterranean restaurant,

Bar Marseille, brings Manhattan chic to Rockaway with a lounge-inspired DJ set, dancing, adult bevies and endless selfie moments. Ooh la la!!

190 Beach 69th Street

Sweet SUNDAYS

3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Sweeten your vocal cords to traditional Irish and American folk songs with Rockaway Irish croonster John Baxter and Friends’ Sing-A-Long Sundays at The Rose Den.

174 Beach 116th Street

COMEDY NIGHT

THE BETTINA SHOW AT THE ROSE DEN

WEDNESDAY, April 12

7 p.m.

Get some comic relief with a bellyache of laughs chased with drink specials at The Bettina Show with comedienne, Bettina Hornung at The Rose Den. Reservations strongly recommended. Message The Rose Den on Instagram: @therosedennyc.

174 Beach 116th Street

EASTER HAPPENINGS

100TH PRECINCT EASTER EGG HUNT

SATURDAY, April 8

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

With Spring temps in the air, the Easter Bunny is making a surprise visit to Rockaway, so bring your kids for a pre-Easter egg-travaganza of fun presented by the 100 Precinct! From an easter egg hunt, treats and more—gear up for an egg-cellent time! Bring your own basket. Recommended for ages 12 and under.

108th Street & Shore Front Parkway

BRUNCH WITH THE EASTER BUNNY AT JAMESON’S

SATURDAY, April 8

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Just in time for Easter, the Easter Bunny made a giant hop to Jameson’s and is waiting for the kiddies to start egg decorating and craft making. Reservations recommended. Call: (718) 474-9364.

421 Beach 129th Street

THE ROCKAWAY HOTEL’S EASTER BRUNCH

SUNDAY, April 9 11 a.m. / 1:30 p.m.

Celebrate Easter with the entire family at The Rockaway Hotel’s Easter Brunch.

For parties of six to 12, the brunch buffet is in the Harbor Room with menu options for everyone. (For parties larger than 12, email: reservations@TheRockawayHotel.com). Also included: photo opportunities for the kids and family, a visit from the Easter Bunny, face painting and more! For parties less than six, Margie’s is a great intimate option. Pricing options: $25 (children ages 12 and younger), Brunch Buffet adult ticket (ages 12 and older) is $60. Brunch buffet open bar package (21+) is $30 and includes bottomless mimosas, Bloody Mary's, beer and wine. For menu, tickets and more info, visit: https://www. therockawayhotel.com/happenings

108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive

OTHER SPECIAL MENTIONS

THE ROCKAWAY HOTEL PRESENTS UNFORGETTABLE FIRE

SATURDAY, April 8

8 p.m.

Hailed as one of the best U2 tribute bands in the U.S., Unforgettable Fire brings Bono's energy and the band's sonic synergy (from sound, wardrobe and lighting!) to The Rockaway Hotel!  In addition to performing a very impressive array of U2 material from pre-“Boy” to the most recent, “Songs of Experience,” the 25-year band does everything in its power to power up the most authentic U2 concert setting for fans. Tickets are $30. Doors open at 7 p.m. For tickets and more info, visit: https://www.therockawayhotel.com/ happenings

108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive

LITTLE ROCKS FAMILY WEEK AT THE ROCKAWAY HOTEL

MONDAY, April 10 to FRIDAY, April 14

The kiddos are on spring break, and parents you definitely need an adult break! So, while you treat yourself to a meal at Margie’s or lose yourself in The Rockaway Hotel’s Spa—the hotel has a plethora of fun and engaging activities for your children, including: Mad Science workshops, story time, painting, dance, baking, kick boxing, yoga and theater classes, plus movie nights. For activity schedule and more info, visit: https://www.therockawayhotel. com/happenings

108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive

Got info on local live music, arts and more? Email: editor@rockawaytimes.com

LOCAL COLOR:

READERS SEND IN THEIR PIX

We might be a little biased, but we think some of the best photographers in the world live in Rockaway. Here are some shots that readers shared with us this week. Send your photos (limit to 2 per week) to mail@rockawaytimes.com and we’ll do our best to print them (space permitting). We do receive more than we can print.

To advertise in The Rockaway Times call 718-634-3030 · ads@RockawayTimes.com

Tom Panzella

Ken Lavery

Linda Anthonijsz

Gary Barteldt

Timothy Meagher

Tommy Share

Andrzej Zbrog

Mark Eidinger

MORE LOCAL COLOR: READERS SEND IN THEIR PIX

We might be a little biased, but we think some of the best photographers in the world live in Rockaway. Here are some shots that readers shared with us this week. Send your photos (limit to 2 per week) to mail@rockawaytimes.com and we’ll do our best to print them (space permitting). We do receive more than we can print.

John Santana

Linda Anthonijsz 18

John Dougherty

Victoria Meier

Joe OBrien

Wayne Sacks

Peter Moerler

SPOT THE DIFFERENCES (7)

WrestleMania Results & The WWE Merger!

So much has happened at this year's WrestleMania 39, the biggest sports entertainment show in the world, so, what can top that? Well, how about breaking news, as the WWE has announced that it is merging with the Endeavor Group, who is the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), to form a new publicly traded company. We are told that the deal values the newly combined company at $21 billion. This merger creates the opportunity to have a global live sport and entertainment company. We have also learned that Vince McMahon will still retain his current title of WWE Executive Chairman. But there still isn't an official name for this

new company. This is definitely exciting news, and we will report on more information about this merger, as it becomes available.

WrestleMania 39 Night 1 Results (April 1, 2023):

• Austin Theory defeated John Cena.

• Street Profits won the Fatal 4 Way Tag Team Match.

• Seth Rollins defeated Logan Paul.

• Becky Lynch/Trish Stratus/Lita defeated Damage CTRL.

• Rey Mysterio defeated Dominik Mysterio.

• Rhea Ripley defeated Charlotte Flair.

• Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn defeated The USOs.

My two favorite matches of the night were Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair and Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn vs. The USOs. Both matches were nice and stiff with solid action. It was awesome to see Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn become the WWE Tag Team Champions.

WrestleMania 39 Night 2 Results (April

2, 2023):

• Brock Lesnar defeated Omos.

• Ronda Rousey/Shayna Baszler won the Women's Fatal 4 Way against Raquel Rodriguez/Chelsea Green and Shotzi/Natalya.

• GUNTHER defeated Sheamus and Drew McIntyre - WWE Intercontinental Title.

• Bianca Belair defeated AsukaWWE RAW Women's Title.

• Snoop Dogg defeated The Miz.

• Edge defeated Finn Balor.

• Roman Reigns defeated Cody Rhodes - WWE Undisputed Universal Title.

My favorite match of the night was Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes which saw Roman Reigns win and retain the Undisputed Universal Title. This had the big match feel to it, and it had great back and forth action. I truly appreciated the performance both wrestlers put out. So, now that the Tribal Chief is still the Undisputed Universal Champion, who is left out there that can dethrone him?

Today, I'm going to give my opinion on the WWE merger with the UFC. I'm totally excited about it. I feel this will bring pro wrestling and Mix

Marital Arts Fighting to a whole new level. Pro Wrestling, just like MMA, is very popular globally and it shares a similar money-making structure that combines ticket sales, live event streaming, TV deals and sponsorships. This merger brings two very popular companies together to create a huge sports and entertainment company. I believe this will provide fans with more content and events to view.

Now, with all that being said, I do hope that with this merger, we see a change to the current independent contractor status the WWE has on all its wrestlers. I would like to see wrestlers hired as company employees and be properly compensated for anything related to the work they perform. I believe a new company, that is valued at $21 billion, can hopefully start off fresh and change their hiring and operating standards of the past. The UFC is also guilty of not properly compensating their fighters and can benefit from a fresh new start. We shall see...

Send in any questions or comments to eavil183@yahoo.com, and have a great weekend!