Beachcomber

Primary? What primary? People in Rockaway have been asking this since cards started going out from the Board of Elections. It took more than the usual digging to confirm there will be a Federal Primary on June 24. That vote will decide which Democratic candidate will run for the US House of Representatives, representing New York’s 5th District, in November. Contenders are current Representative Gregory Meeks and business owner Joseph Martone. There’s more info in this week’s Wave.

Speaking of electeds, according to Ballotopedia, Kirsten Gillibrand, who is up for re-election in 2018, has served in Congress since 2009. Charles Schumer, who will be running in 2016, took office in 1999. Meeks started in the House a bit earlier, in 1998.

Current State Senator Malcolm Smith is both running for re-election and standing trial on Federal charges relating to a scheme to bribe his way onto the ballot in the last New York City mayor’s race.

According to a story by Natasha Velez and Natalie O’Neil in last week’s Post “The NYPD is taking aim at Rockaway’s beachgoers — cracking down on minor infractions such as drinking beer, walking dogs and climbing on rock jetties. During the Memorial Day weekend, cops issued 152 “quality-of-life violation” summonses — three times more than the same period last year.”

A proposal is now before Community Board 14 to rename a street in Belle Harbor after Dylan Smith. At the height of Hurricane Sandy, Smith and neighbor Michael McDonnell rescued six people from rising waters and raging fires. He died just two months later at age 23.

Drive by the lot next to 90-09 Rockaway Beach Boulevard and you may get to see a new and unique artwork taking shape. Artist Nicolina Johnson, better known as simply Nicolina, with the help of the Lower East Side Girls Club and other volunteers, is creating a new mural there.

Get ready for squalls. No, it wasn’t the flooding rains last Monday. It was a flurry of speed tickets, thousands of them, which have only just begun to go out to Rockaway drivers and others. Expect heavy thunder and lightning to surely follow.

On Sunday five vintage propeller-driven fighter planes were spotted streaking across the sky over Fort Tilden, traveling east. A little later a single plane came roaring along on its own.

From Pete Mahon’s West 12th Road Block Association blog: “On average, the first hurricane in the Atlantic Basin typically does not form until August 10. However, history proves that hurricanes can still develop in June if all the necessary ingredients are in place.” Hurricane season. No doubt many people remember when that wasn’t a regular topic of conversation in the Northeast. In Florida? Yes. New York? No, that’s something new.

This just in from the internet: “Foods that Slowly KILL Your Brain.” There are apparently several beverages out there that’ll do that, too.

Riis Park and Fort Tilden beaches are open! Know before you go that there are no lifeguards. It is swim at your own risk. But come out and enjoy one of the best kept secrets in Rockaway. Until now.

Taken verbatim from a recent scam e-mail: “Due to the recent upgrade in our SSL server to serve you better, Please note that all users are mandated to update their login details in other to enjoy the new upgrade.” If that didn’t tip you off, the e-mail address,walkersfuneral@aol.com, might have.

Lots of activity at Fort Tilden. Lots of people coming and going and work being done for the coming world class summer arts festival. Stay tuned.

Turns out the south facing “Wrong Way” signs just where the entrance ramps bring northbound traffic onto the Cross Bay Bridge make sense. If you come up from Beach Channel Drive at the top of the ramp you will see a “No U-Turn” sign advising you not to then make a quick left and drive into oncoming traffic on the ramp next door. Of course, if you need a sign to tell you not to make a U-turn on a bridge, it may be too late anyway.

If you’re wondering whether the Department of Transportation or Department of Environmental Protection has answered The Wave’s repeated calls or emails about the cracks in Beach Channel Drive byBeach 119th Street and Beach 123rd Street, we’re still waiting.

In last week’s edition, The Wave reported the shooting death of a Far Rockaway woman in Washington, D.C. The victim, Catina Cortes, was fatally shot at a College Park hotel. Prince George County Police has arrested Vaughn Darvell Bellamy, 23, and have charged him with first- and second-degree murder and a gun charge.

So far, the rumor that Trader Joe’s might be opening up shop in Rockaway is just that, a rumor. If The Wave hears anything different, we’ll let you know!