Beachcomber

Beachcomber

Lesson learned this week; when Rockaway people see something, they say something. Keep it up!

The portrait sketch of Dan Guarino which often appears along with his Broad Channel Bits column was done by Rockaway artist Linda Rufo. She penciled it in about 10 minutes while sitting across a table at the Blarney Castle in Breezy Point.

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Northeast head of the American Littoral Society and Broad Channelresident Don Riepe is quoted in a Daily News article which states that the once endangered piping plovers are now thriving, and reproducing, in the Rockaways.

In the Beach 90’s across from the beach, you may see what looks like a half of a house. It is. Robert Moses’ 1939 master plan was to build a highway straight through fromBrooklyn to the Hamptons, basically using Rockaway as the convenient road bed. Many homes as well as businesses and seaside attractions were demolished. And yes, one house was cut in half. Small wonder Rockawayites don’t like other people stampeding in with their big plans for our front yard.

Hungarian-born rocker Erdélyi Tamás will be missed here in Rockaway. Probably better known as Tommy Ramone, he passed away on July 11. His group the Ramone’s 1977 hit “Rockaway Beach” (“Rock, rock, Rockaway Beach!”) is now part of Rockaway legend.

The list of organizations that a) do good things around here and b) start with the word ‘Rockaway’ would run past the length of your arm. And just as often those names can be confused. Nevertheless, to give credit where it is due, it is the hardworking Rockaway Civic Association which been running the Beach Flix, movies on the beach, for years on end.

So long, Cosmo’s Ices on Beach 96th Street. They scooped their last ice this past weekend and closed up shop. The owner is moving to California.

A special shout-out to Rockaway residents Elisa O’Toole and David Hooks, who proved this is one Rockaway, for better or worse.

There is no truth to the rumor that Rupert Murdoch will soon be publishing the FoxRockaway News.

To clarify a recent quote, studies by the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance have found that most of the people riding the ferry are indeed locals, from 11693 and 11694 zip codes. So, by making the Rockaway Freeway underpass safer for more commuters, RWA feels ridership on the ferry could be dramatically increased from people living on the east end as a direct byproduct. All of Rockaway can benefit from a continued ferry.

Beloved Thai Rock bartender Greg Angelos was recently injured in “a senseless act.” There will be a benefit for this friend in need at the popular eatery on Saturday, August 16 from

7:30 p.m. on. The Gray Riders band will be playing.

The colorful stained glass piece there, now brightly lit and placed over the Thai Rock entrance, is byRockaway artist Anne Hourigan.

This will be the last weekend to experience the “Forty Piece Motet” sound sculpture by Janet Cardiff at the Rockaway! exhibition, hosted by the Rockaway Artists Alliance and beautifully presented in the Fort Tilden Chapel. After Sunday Aug. 17, it will be moving. Catch it while it’s here.

Sign on the contemplative and quiet closed-in grassy area across from the St. Francis de Sales: “This is a prayer garden. Please no ball playing or dog walking.”

Goody’s BBQ Chicken and Ribs restaurant, on Amstel Boulevard, was getting very good word of mouth praise from two people standing in line at a Beach 59th Street event.

A person walking bare foot in the street with their shirt flying open may cause a stir in Forest Hills. But inRockaway? Not so much.

Rockaway rocker Jammin’ Jon Kiebon will be celebrating his birthday by doing a performance at the Rockaway Artists Alliance Sunday Music from 6 p.m. on August 17 atFort Tilden.

“The meeting on Aug. 9 will be directed towards the boogie board issue.” This is a civic association meeting notice you could only find in Rockaway.

There will be a mobile, no-cost breast cancer screening in Far Rockaway sponsored by the American-Italian

Cancer Foundation and hosted by the Rockaway Development and Revitalization Corp. Place: 1920 Mott Avenue. Date/Time: Saturday, August 30th, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointment: required. Call: 877-628-9090.

August 20 is National Lemonade Day. The day before is “When Life Hands You Lemons…” Day. We know a lot about that here in Rockaway and Broad Channel.

The folks who manage he Rockaway Commons shopping center are a trip. In the winter, the sidewalks are never shoveled, and in the summer, the parking lot is never full. Yet, while the dollar vans seem to have the run of the place, B&M Towing continues to haul away “illegally parked” cars left and right. Each car nets them a tidy $140 fee from the beleaguered driver. Most recently, a job seeker had her vehicle towed while at an interview. Seriously? In a half-full lot? No wonder some people are talking boycott.

If you get an email from the EZ-Pass Sevice center make sure you check the sender email address, as phony email scams are causing people to provide hackers with their personal info. Hat tip to 100th Precinct Community Council President Danny Ruscillo for the heads-up!