Rockaway Times Sept. 25th onine edition

Broad Channel VFW Post 260: Brunch this Sunday

VFW Prince-Wynn Post #260

705 Shad Creek Road
Broad Channel

Sunday

September 28th, 2014

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

New EPA Regulation: “It is as big as Biggert-Waters (and) nobody is talking about it...”

New EPA regulation would have drastic effect on real estate market

By Kyle Barnett  September 26, 2014

The River Region Chamber of Commerce is being proactive about a proposed regulation that they say could have as negative affect on St. Charles Parish and surrounding areas as the Biggert-Waters Act.

The River Region Chamber was instrumental in pushing back against the Biggert-Waters Act last year after it was revealed the law would likely cause bankruptcies and business failures throughout the region due to skyrocketing flood insurance rates.  Now, the chamber has their eyes set on a newly proposed regulation that is rumored to be every bit as big as Biggert-Waters would have been.

The issue is with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent proposal to amend the definition of navigable waterways and place restrictions on building in flood plains. Randy Noel, board member and public policy committee member of the River Regions Chamber of Commerce, said the new restrictions could cost up to three times as much for those pursuing construction in areas where wetlands mitigation is needed.

Anyone seeking to build on a flood plain would also have to apply for a 404 permit and go through several layers of bureaucracy.

“It is as big as Biggert-Waters, nobody is talking about it,” Noel said.

Recent figures have put the cost of mitigating a single acre of land at more than $20,000. Noel said due to increased costs, the newly redefined regulation would have a negative effect on the entire region.

“It covers anything in a flood plain. Are we in a flood plain down here? We are all in flood plains,” Noel said. “If you have any inkling that it is going to be treated as wetlands, you are going to have to go get a 404 permit.”

In addition to construction, a 404 permit would also be needed to work on drainage ditches, canals, ponds or any other source that would be redefined as a national waterway.

“Now they have to be treated and have a 404 permit to be touched, which means for local governments every time they want to maintain a drainage ditch they have to go get a 404 permit,” he said. “That is going to delay maintaining the drainage systems, which is going to flood houses.”

The new definition is currently in a comment period, but Noel said the EPA has the ability to disregard any pushback from community members.

“The EPA can put this into effect regardless of the comments, so there is no stopping them unless we get congressional action or we have to take them to court which is a long, long action,” he said.

The River Region Chamber has garnered the early support of the National Association of Counties and GNO Inc., who will be partnering up to fight against the regulation.

In addition, Sen. Mary Landrieu addressed the issue in a letter to Gina McCarthy, administrator of the EPA.

“The negative impact on real estate development is a glaring example of the disruptive practical effects of the proposed rule. Increased permitting will cause delay for site modifications, and landlords, who often have specific time incentives built into lease agreements, may be unable to fulfill time obligations or predict certainty in those lease agreements. This would jeopardize their ability to retain and attract future tenants,” Landrieu said.

Noel said he is pleased with how quickly Landrieu has responded to the issue.

“She is on it, she understands it because I am telling you how Biggert-Waters would have shut down our real estate community, this could do the same thing. It is not on anybody’s radar. We’ve got to get the EPA to pull this rule back,” he said.

Broad Channel Bits

By Dan Guarino

It was a few years ago when I found myself down at the BCAC field, standing behind two pint-sized football players. Decked out in their pads and uniforms, they were one of a few visiting teams playing that day. As they waited for their turn, I heard them discussing the fierce names of the other teams. The Jaguars, the Cougars, the Barracudas. They both agreed these teams sounded pretty rough and tumble.

Pointing out the green shamrocks on the helmets and jerseys of the Broad Channel home team, one kid said, “Who are they?”

“The Irish?” the first player said. “They don’t sound that tough.”“

I think they’re called The Irish,” the other boy said.

I leaned over to both of them and said, “Then you haven’t met the Irish.”

In case you missed all the lights, music and fun going on at the north end of town, the first BC Fall Festival is on! Hosted by the American Legion and the Broad Channel Athletic Club it started up on Wednesday and Thursday and it is running Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26 and 27, from 6 to 11 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 28 from 5-10. The fun fair will have rides, games, food, music and more. Come down and enjoy. It’ll all be at the BCAC Memorial Field at 125 Cross Bay Boulevard.

The BCVFD Annual Ladies Softball Game is this Saturday, Sept. 27, 1:30 p.m. at the BCAC field, $20 per player includes after party at Ruffle Bar. Food, beer and refreshments will be sold. Proceeds benefit the Vollies. For information call Janine at 718-634-7235. Come on down, play or just watch. No coolers please. Lots of fun and laughs. Help support our Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department!

The Shad Creek Association’s Annual Fall Pig Roast is this Saturday, Sept. 27 from 2 p.m. on. It’s $35 per person for burgers, hot dogs, brats, hors d’oeuvres, turkey, ham, veggies and more, and, yes, the pig. This is a grownupsonly event. Tickets at the door or call Bob Sacco 917-709-2892 or the club 718-634-1631.

Love those fall brunches? This Sunday, Sept. 28, the VFW is whipping up brunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The VFW is at 705 Shad Creek Road.

Next Sunday, Oct. 5, is the American Legion’s first fall brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 209 Cross Bay Boulevard. The Legion Auxiliary’s and VFW’s ever cheerful servers and cooks will be rolling out eggs, omelets and pancake’s and the rolls, drinks, coffees and desserts. Out-oftowners welcomed!

The VFW Post 260 Flea Market is Saturday and Sunday, Oct.

4 and 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Interested in a table? Call Liz at

646-744-9230. It’s a great deal at $10 per day.

Parent meetings for the St. Virgilius/St. Camillus Religious Education Program on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The 3:30 p.m. meeting is at St. Camillus. The 7:30 p.m. is at St. Virgilius. Parents can attend either meeting. Students should register now. For information, call Sister Maureen Ahlemeyer at 718-634-8229

Hit the brakes! The six-hour Defensive Driving Class Point and Insurance Reduction Program is back. A $45 payment guarantees your seat at St. Camillus Springmannn Hall, 185 Beach 99th Street in Rockaway Park. The class will be on Wednesday, Oct. 8 and 15, from 7 to 10 p.m.

No tests and completing both nights of the class will get you a 10 percent discount off liability, collision and no fault insurance for three years and up to a 4-point reduction off your license.

Call Helen at 917-553-2409 or 718-945-4648. Proceeds help benefit St. Camillus-St. Virgilius Religious Instruction Program (CCD).

Christ Presbyterian by the Sea Church already has bookings for their newly rebuilt and reopened social hall. If you are planning a social event, shower, birthday party, wedding etc., you’ll want to check in and reserve your dates now. Call Joyce Adamiszyn at 718-479-3580 and leave a message.

Also, Sunday school starts Oct. 5. Stop by the church’s side entrance on Sunday at 10:15 a.m. for registration.

BC Scout Troop 282 meets every Monday at 6:30 p.m. Cub Scouts meet at the Legion Hall. Call Joe Panetta 917-238-1507 or Fred Ciappetta 718-877- 3467. Boy Scouts meet at the Shad Creek Association. Call Fred at 718-877- 3467 or Jon Paul Ravinia at 718-440-0565. There is open registration every Monday.

The St. Virgilius Senior Citizens Club meets at the Legion Hall every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. The St. Camillus Golden Age Club meets Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. in Springman Hall in Rockaway.

Last Saturday night, somebody decided to take a computer, chairs and other items out of a dumpster near the library, smash them up and leave bits scattered all over the park by the tennis courts.

Hey, if you are from here and did this, what would you say if somebody else came and trashed the Channel?

And if you’re not from here, go trash where you live. Stay out of BC.

Finally, thanks to Councilman Eric Ulrich, Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder and Senator Joe Addabbo for making sure that Broad Channel’s streets will get repaved. You may have read last week in The Wave that the FEMA-funded original plan only included a handful of streets and left out others. FEMA picked the streets and FEMA would not budge. That was not good enough for BC. Because we have dedicated public officials, and because they are working with superdedicated, level-headed people like Dan Mundy Jr. and the BC Civic Association, a way was found. The DOT agreed to pick up the rest of the streets.

Most all the other streets in the Channel, all damaged by Sandy, will be done under other programs and funds. This includes the street raisings on the West side and the rest of Cross Bay.

A special recognition to Queens DOT Commissioner Delia Hall. And a BC shout-out to Project Manager Bhavani Ravanan who understands our town and has gone above and beyond to do right by it.

Thanks for reading
.

Beachcomber

The Q114 was inaugurated on Aug. 31. Anyone who remembers bouncing around fromFar Rockaway to Jamaica on the Q113 may appreciate the new limited bus line. Councilman Donovan noted that the original Q113 route had 77 stops toward Jamaica and 67 towards Far Rockaway. The new Q114 has 50 stops to Jamaica and 44 to Far Rockaway, skipping a total of 27 stops to Jamaica and 23 to Far Rockaway, cutting the commute time in half.

Best idea heard yet for storm resilience: Replenish the shoreline with clumping kitty litter. When the next storm surge comes ashore it will be instantly absorbed. Then it can be scooped up and thrown away. Take that, superstorm whatever!

Speaking of Fall Festivals, the Rockaway Beach Merchants Association is also planning one of its own, more details will be available shortly, but there will be food, pumpkin painting, martial arts demonstrations by CROM MT, live music and more. Oct.18 is the date, so check out www.rockawaybeachmerchants.org in the coming days.

The Beach 116th Street Partnership is throwing a festival. The Beach 116 Fall Fest will feature live music from local bands, a beer garden, local artists and more from noon to 6 on Sunday, October 5. As the say, “Beach 116th Street is back and we’re having a party!”

Two years in the making, but Broad Channel is getting a majority of its streets, damaged by Hurricane Sandy, milled down to the ground and repaved. Councilman Eric Ulrich, Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, Dan Mundy Jr. and the Broad Channel Civic Association can rightly take credit for pushing to get this done.

A Rockaway chain variety store features interesting “As Seen On TV” products as the Potato Express, HD Vision Visor and the Bright Eyes Panda Bear Blanket (“The eyes glow in the dark!”), and Bullseye Wee Wee Pads. Dogs, the box claims, will wee wee in the center. One woman asked if they could make such a product for adult men.

The recent tragic suicide at the Dayton Beach Park apartments points out the silent difficulties many people face. “Look into my Heart and Mind, tell me what you see” is the theme of a suicide awareness and prevention tour that is holding events all over Queens.The next is a community luncheon at Seaside Library on Monday, September 29, from 11 to 1.

Check the cold beverage case of one Rockaway Beach deli and you will find cans of Red Bull, Monster energy drink and Ensure.

With October comes the second anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. As we approach the distance of two years from the event that shook our communities down to our roots, how will we consider where, win or lose, Rockaway is today? And how will we look at the road we have all traveled to get there?

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.” -Helen Keller

Late last week after much preparation, including blocking off streets, police escorts and a crane, the comfort stations — which were stored across from Scholars’ Academy – were finally moved. The modular trailers were then permanently mounted on piles on the beach at Beach 67th Street. Strangely enough, there were no marching bands present or crowds of Rockawayites throwing their hats up in the air.

Leading computer scientists and cyber engineers have concluded that yes, you cannot assume it is true because you read on the web or somebody posted it on Facebook.

Visitors were intrigued by Elegante Pizzeria’s advertisement tagline: “We deliver to the beach.” You can’t find that everywhere!

The St. Francis de Sales Quilters will have their annual blessing of the quilts on Sunday October 5 at the 10:30 Mass. Raffles for three baby quilts will be sold after the mass in the small hall. Raffles will also be sold at the street fair on Beach 116th Street during the day. Winners will be announced at 4 o’clock from the stage across from the firehouse.

If you’ve picked up a coffee at your neighborhood deli recently, you may have noticed the advertisement on the cup: “Sponsored by the City’s Office of Emergency Management.” In the ad, it shows a set of bright colored concentric circles against the backdrop of gray crashing waves. “Know Your Zone” it says, referring to NYC’s six hurricane evacuation zones. Visit NYC.gov/knowyourzone or call 311 the ad advises. And definitely get that coffee to go!

One wonders if the repaving of Rockaway Beach Boulevard will ever be finished, or if the broken sidewalks east of Beach 90th Street will ever be made whole again. Then again, if you put blanks in the previous sentence, many folks in Rockaway have their own projects that need to be finished and homes to be made whole again.

The Wave loves our social media audience, especially the growing number of community groups on Facebook and the constant interaction on Twitter. Keep it up!

Obituary: Catherine V. O'Toole of Broad Channel

Catherine V. O’Toole

Catherine, O’ Toole of Broad Channel, died on Sept. 23.

She was preceded in death by her husband Michael, and is survived her children Kathleen Ellis, Michael O’Toole, Alice Barry, Kerry O’Toole, Mary Kay Ross, Jackie Williams.

She is also survived by her sisters Margaret, Peggy, Joan; 17 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

Visitation will be at Denis S. O’Connor Funeral Home on Friday, Sept. 26, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. 9 p.m.

Obituary: Catherine Di'Palo Booth of Broad Channel

Catherine Di’Palo Booth

Catherine Di’Palo Booth, 59, of Broad Channel, died on Aug. 30.

Born on Jan. 28, 1955 in Brooklyn, New York, Catherine was a Broad Channel for more than 40 years.

Booth is survived by Eddie, Joel Stephanie, Emily, Jonathan, Gabriella, Elizabeth, Joann, Cathy, Debbie, Lorrain, Serena, AJ, Anthony, Jason, Korron, Mariah, Angelo, and Rey Rey, baby Joel, Carmine and Mary.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Jeremiah C. Gaffney Funeral Home,Inwood.

MEMOIR IS LOVE LETTER TO BROAD CHANNEL & HOWARD BEACH

SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Photo courtesy of Marguerite Rocholl

Marguerite Rocholl’s dad, photojournalist Edward Clarity, many moons ago helped the New York Daily News nab a Pulitzer Prize. And on the plaque that was given to him to commemorate the award was a short note from the publisher, which read: “We couldn’t have done it without you Ed.”

The same can be said of his daughter’s book debut, “Before You Were Born.”

Rocholl admits that the tome, a paean to her childhood in Broad Channel and raising her own family in Howard Beach, was heavily influenced by her father.

“That’s why I wrote the book,” said Rocholl, on the telephone from her home in the Catskills. “I just thought that he had the greatest job ever.”

And Clarity excelled at it. Before he retired and later died in the 1980s, he earned 200 awards as a photographer. But that didn’t make it any easier for Rocholl, an award-winning shooter herself, to pen the memoir.

Author and Broad Channel native Marguerite Rocholl with her granddaughter, Audrey
Photo courtesy of Marguerite Rocholl

“I always wanted to write about him, but I couldn’t do it. Then I thought, ‘Why don’t I write it from the point of view of a daughter?’” she recalled. “The words just never stopped coming.”

Those words were equally inspired by her three children: Regina, Jacqueline and Christian, to whom it is dedicated, along with her husband, Ted, a retired city firefighter and native of Woodhaven.

“That’s kind of how I came up with the title,” Rocholl noted. “The book is addressed to my kids, and it’s like I’m telling them about things before they were born.”

One of the events she detailed was the arrival of Hurricane Donna in Broad Channel in 1960. Since Rocholl’s sister Mary was expecting her first child, she ran to Mary’s house which was just a few doors down from her own on 15th Road.

“The water came up through the floor boards,” Rocholl remembered. “Furniture floating, baby clothes…” Her voice trailed off just a bit, before recalling how the storm affected her decision on where to raise her own family. “I don’t think I can do this,” the Stella Maris High School alum said she confided to herself with a nervous laugh.

So she and Ted settled down in Old Howard Beach after they were married in 1963.

“Maybe because it’s halfway between Woodhaven and Broad Channel,” Rocholl playfully posited when asked why they chose Howard Beach. “No, I just wanted to stay near my friends and family, but not so near the hurricanes and stuff.”

Rocholl and Ted now call upstate New York home. But listening to her reminisce on growing up “in the water” in Broad Channel, and making memories with her children in Howard Beach, you get a sense of where Rocholl’s heart is and will always be.

On that sandy Queens peninsula, and her beloved daddy’s knee.

Contractors Respond to address issue of ponded tidal water at end of W12thRd

W12thRd, September 25th, 2014
1:50 p.m.

Less than 2 hours after our previous posting of significant ponded water at the end of W12thRd remaining after this morning's high tide, unable to out flow into the bay, the contractors arrived at the end of the street shortly before 2 pm and immediately set about establishing a runoff to allow the ponded tidal waters to drain from the street.

Those of us who live at the bay end of W12thRd thank you for your quick response!

Boyleing Points - Inside Karma (Rockaway Times)

The Rockaway Times

BOYLEING POINTS: INSIDE KARMA

September 25, 2014 By Kevin Boyle 0

Inside baseball is an expression that essentially means you have deep knowledge of a subject, not just baseball. You might drop names and jargon in conversation that nobody else gets unless they’re inside baseball, equally clued in to the minutia of a subject.

Did I lose you already?

You gotta be careful using inside baseball stuff because if you go too inside you’ll be the only one in there. A ferry advocate might say, How come Jim Barker isn’t at any of these ferry rallies? Why isn’t Jim Barker making more noise about keeping the ferry?

Who?

If you know Jim Barker that means you’re inside baseball on the subject of the ferry. He’s the guy who owns Seastreak, the company that operates the ferry.

Nobody – as in the general public – really knows the guy’s name. C’mon, let’s see a show of hands from people who actually ride the ferry. Could you pick Jim Barker’s name out of a lineup?

Speaking of lineups, and the criminal justice system, there was a story in the Daily News and DNAInfo this week about a publisher of a newspaper in Queens who was arrested following a spat with a neighbor. Apparently she expected the arresting office to be Inside Baseball because she screamed at him “Do you know who the F— I am?”

Oh man, oh man, oh man. Picture me biting my knuckle as I fight back going all Inside Baseball right now. How I’m dying to write more about this Queens publisher. I’ve even got stuff on tape. But there’s another expression which I’ve got to follow and that’s taking the high road. And while expressing expressions, I’ll just save the stuff for a rainy day.

Man, this high road stinks.

* * *

Boyleing Over: Happy birthday, Helen Boyle. If you’re going to give her a gift please hold off on giving her anything to do with Buster Posey. Buster is an all-star catcher for the baseball Giants and her longtime crush on the kid is well known. All she seems to get on birthdays and Christmas are Buster Posey related items. She’s got three replica Posey uniforms hanging on her wall. And I’m not kidding. She’d trade me for Buster in a New York second.

My siblings tell me she’s a world class cook these days. I wouldn’t know, I’m still traumatized by the pork shops she served up in the Great Depression (Brooklyn, 1970’s). I still maintain they were bones stolen from the Museum of Natural History. The apple sauce on top never fooled me. Anyway, besides reportedly having improved cooking skills, she’s a proofreader extraordinaire. Every time you come across a typo don’t blame her – I just forgot to fix it. And she didn’t proof this one because I wanted the Birthday wishes to be a surprise. Errors are all mine.

Hppy brthdy, Helen !

* * *

There’s gotta be a future column coming about closeted liberals in Rockaway.

Many libs are quite loud and proud but there’s a segment in hiding. You may have noticed the Beef Chip column shows a person’ s head covered by a paper bag. The image always makes me think of the people who lean in and whisper, I’m kind of a liberal. Like it’s a state secret. Hey, from what I hear, you can be a liberal and still detest the mayor, so what’s the worry?

Between the Bridges in Broad Channel (Rockaway Times)

The Rockaway Times

Between the Bridges in Broad Channel

by: Peter Mahon

"It Ain't the Rockaway Times, Babe!"

I received several complaints this past weekend from Broad Channel neighbors who were annoyed with what they believed to be the Rockaway Times delivery policy of simply tossing a copy of the paper on the sidewalk in front of their houses, in some cases mere feet from their mail box.. I explained that the Rockaway Times is delivered only to mail boxes as our extensive, professional and highly trained Broad Channel delivery staff (my daughters, Amy and Victoria) have strict instructions that if they cannot access a home's mail box or place it between a storm and front door of a home, they are not to drop a paper anywhere else on the property.  Additionally, we do not snowflake all of Broad Channel with copies of the Rockaway Times not unlike an explosion of feathers from a pillow fight. The only deliveries we make are ones that have been specifically requested.  In short, if you find a local newspaper casually tossed on the sidewalk or street in front of your residence, to paraphrase Bob Dylan, "It aint the Rockaway Times, Babe!"  

Speaking of deliveries, if you live in Broad Channel and would like the Rockaway Times delivered weekly (to your mailbox, of course!) simply call, text or email me using the contact info at the end of this column.  (Special note to George out in Five Towns...stop emailing me how great you think the paper is...your delivery ain't happening!  Use the link to the weekly online edition I sent you.) 

Broad Channel is a busy town these days. The long awaited Broad Channel Tidal Flood Mitigation Capital Project with new bulkheads, water, sanitary and storm sewage infrastructure and raised streets on W11th, 12th and 13th Roads, has finally left the starting gate.  Initial bulkhead construction is presently well underway on W12th Road with parking on the south side of W12thRd prohibited, Mon-Fri, between the hours of 7am and 6pm to afford unimpeded and safe access onto and off the street by construction equipment and other vehicles.  "Displaced" parking for residents of W12thRd is available on the unstriped portions of the safety zone lanes on both sides of the Cross Bay Boulevard median.

The recent Broad Channel street resurfacing project by DOT has been expanded to include resurfacing of side streets previously excluded on the both sides of town. This was a tremendous achievment on the part of the Broad Chanel Civic Association as the previous exclusion of these side streets was both ill conceived and just plain wrong. By the way, the 2014 fall season's first meeting of the Broad Channel Civic Association is tonight (Thursday, Sept. 25th) at the VFW Hall at 7 pm on Shad Creek Road..

Traveling the boulevard and side streets of Broad Channel one cannot help but notice the increasing number of homes being newly constructed and/or raised.  Unfortunately, there are still many other Broad Channel residents still awaiting real assistance, now almost 2 years after Sandy, from the N.Y.C. Build It Back program. Even sadder are the number of "For Sale" signs adorning Broad Channel properties.

The 1st Annual Fall Festival sponsored by the Broad Channel American Legion Post 1404 and the BCAC kicked off this week and will continue each evening through this Sunday, September 28th, at the BCAC Field with rides, games, lots of food, nightly live entertainment and much more.  

Displaced Broad Channel residents Eileen and Joseph O'Hare attended a wedding this past weekend and during the reception a special appearance was made by their son, "Lil" Joe, resplendent in a full "Batman" costume.  When asked for comment all Eileen could say was "My son is nuts! I signed up for one of those trace your family tree sites and they sent me a packet of seeds and recommended I start over!"

Good news from Broad Channel's displaced Corbett family of W11thRd. Tommy Corbett states his clan is finally making some progress as the plans for their house have been approved.  Here's hoping things start to move a lot faster from this point on.

Ever the Broad Channel Mom, Vicki Boden is already missing her son Kevin who recently left to join the United States Marine Corps. Vicki and the entire Boden family are looking forward to seeing Kevin again upon his graduation from training at Parris Island, S.C.  Don't worry Vicki, he'll be fine. Look on the bright side, at least you know where he is every night! When you see him again in a few months he will be a proud member of the USMC or as we older, long in the tooth, Marines refer to ourselves, one of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children!

Broad Channel - why would anyone want to live anywhere else?

Contact Info: email rtbetweenthebridges@gmail.com or call or text 347-2261293.

High Tide - A little of this and that (Rockaway Times)

Time flies. The Rockaway Times just celebrated a quarter of year anniversary. And we didn’t even realize it. You were there at the beginning. Before you know it, you’ll be saying I’m so old I remember when The Rockaway Times started.

* * *

Emil Lucev who used to write the Historical Views column is joining with his daughter Katie to contribute stuff to The Rockaway Times. Emil’s column with great photos and postcards was well loved by many. It’ll be a treat to see what he and Katie send this way.

* * *

Look for the Rockaway Wellness Partnership Flu program (part of the Visiting Nurse Service) which launched Tuesday, September 23rd. Nurses will be administering the flu shot at various locations throughout Rockaway community. No insurance is necessary and there is no cost for the shots.

* * *

The magic missing Rockaway business in the Word Search last week was The Wharf. Kathryn Edwards crossed the finish line first. The winner of the $25 gift certificate is….drum roll….Kathryn Edwards! Her name was picked out of a hat. Congrats to other word search experts: Fonda Sara, Carol Sheets, Kathy Hughes, Sally McVeigh, Sue Sullivan, Valerie Christopher, Ann Marie Nelson, Millie McGrory, Ellen Mendonca, Caren Pedolsky, Kathy Mertz and Phil Maguire.

* * *

We hope to publish an art piece a week, thanks to a suggestion from an out-of-town reader who follows the RT online. We’re happy to accept suggestions but oftentimes we’ll just publish those pieces we come across as we’re out and about. We won’t necessarily have any more information other than where it was. This week’s piece was spotted on the wall in the Rockaway Beach Surf Club.

* * *

Two years after Hurricane Sandy, healthcare issues in the Rockaways are worsening. Noah Barth, Doctors of the World Program Manager said in a press release, “We expected to find low-income communities with poor health outcomes and poor access to healthcare services, which we did; but we also found that the deficit in affordable services is impacting everyone, including people with insurance and those in higher income brackets.”

* * *

Police got a call Tuesday around 6:30 p.m. about two girls drowning off Beach 17th Street. Officers got there in time to save the girls, ages 14 and 15. The stretch of beach from Beach 9th to about Beach 20th seems to have more drownings or near- drownings than anywhere else in Rockaway, usually off-season or after lifeguard hours.

* * *

Allen Steinhardt is running for Congress, challenging Gregory Meeks. A contractor by trade, Steinhardt has recently met people on the campaign trail in need of emergency business and home repairs. He put aside campaigning, grabbed his tools, and got to fixing. Sounds like a couple of votes he can now count on.

* * *

To our Jewish community: Happy and Healthy New Year and only good things for 5775.

* * *

The New York Police Department’s 101st Precinct honored the Rockaway Citizens Safety Patrol on Thursday night at the precinct’s Medal Day event.

* * *

Ok, so we’ve gotten a couple of calls asking that we publish obituaries. We will soon offer them online at RockawayTimes.com. Snowbirds and Rockaway ex-pats will soon be able to check online (for free) to see who is no longer with us.

* * *

The Blue Angels is the United States Navy’s flight demonstration unit. They do an air show over Jones Beach over Memorial Day weekend. We just heard Phil Goldfeder is trying to get them to perform over Rockaway next Memorial Day. Seems like a great way to draw crowds and what a great incentive to make sure Phase 1 of the boardwalk is done!

* * *

This headline came in through email: Mayor de Blasio Commits to 80 Percent Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050. Sounds consistent with other items on his timetable.

* * *

From the Broad Channel Civic regarding Build it Back: While we have experienced some progress at these meetings on issues that we have brought up, the overall pace and progress of the program to date has been abysmal. There have been recent changes within the program and we are hoping that will help.

* * *

Rockaway Times TV? Yes, we’re calling it RTV. Now, lots of people like holding a newspaper. Lots! We know. Still, the future is coming so we’re always working on our free website, RockawayTimes.com. We’ve just started producing videos which give advertisers a chance to introduce themselves and their businesses. Geri Lipsman from Neponsit Realty and Chris and Sarah Romulo of CROM martial arts are starring in the first ones we’ve produced. Paul’s Bikes, Jameson’s, and others are getting ready for their close-up on RTV. You know what they say, videos are worth a thousand ads.

Broad Channel W12thRd: Several inches of "bathtub" effect tidal waters remain in street post high tide

W12thRd, Thursdat, September 25th, 2014

12:15 p.m. (High Tide +2.5 hours)

Two and a half hours after peak high tide  the bay end of W12thRd is still flooded with several inches of tidal water even though the water height on the bay itself has decreased markedly.

W12thRd, Thursdat, September 25th, 2014

12:15 p.m. (High Tide +2.5 hours)

An inspection of the end of the street to ascertain if residents could "shovel out" a run off to release the ponded water revealed the ongoing construction in preparation for the cofferdam and bulkhead, which has reconfigured the outfall area and does not provide for or allow a viable runoff of tidal street flooding.

Obviously this is a temporary condition but consideration should be given to addressing this "bathtub" effect of tidal water prior to the tidal street flooding of W12thRd which will take place during the period of October 4th through October 4th as we approach a full moon on October 8th.

Broad Channel: W12thRd Tidal Flooding (Thursday 9/25/2014)

Onshore winds coupled with a recent new moon resulted in some minor tidal street flooding with this morning's 5.9 foot high tide at 9:43 am.

W12thRd New Bulkhead Construction Activity (Wednesday 9/24/2014)

Project staff were present at the Field Office.Again but there was no actual construction activity evident during the workday of Wednesday, September 24th, 2014.  

Wednesday September 24th, 2014

4:30 p.m.