Beachcomber

After a beautiful day, the wind picked up and the sky darkened with clouds as evening fell on October 29, Sandy’s anniversary. In the west, the horizon turned orange, then purple blue and rain began to fall. A reminder? Through rain and darkness and storms that have come and gone since, two years later, we are still here.

The arts are popping in Rockaway. Expect to see more on this story soon: “Artist Robyn Renee Hasty And Jaklitsch / Gardner Architects Unveil The Design For ‘Stilt City’ An Artist Residency Program And Community Art Center In Rockaway Park.”

As The Wave goes to press, local elected officials are meeting with Mayor de Blasio about the fate of the Rockaway-Brooklyn-Manhattan ferry. Some people hopefully consider this meeting a ‘we’ll see’ on the mayor’s part. Hopefully that’s the case. Of course, we also know what every parent often means when they say ‘we’ll see,’ too.“Dad, can we have a pony?” “We’ll see.”

A short film is set to start shooting out our way in mid-November. “Forgiving Sandy Glass,” featuresRockaway’s Jaime Dolan and Evan Davis and Mario Tineo of the Bronx, in a story about three Rockaway Beach born and raised brothers and one secret which “can either destroy (their) family, or unite them.” Search “Forgiving Sandy Glass” to find out more or help fund it through kickstarter.com.

Numerous “Cuomo/Hochul” campaign signs along Beach Channel Drive have been spray painted over. So much for winning people over by having better ideas.

Remembering being made ‘homeless’ by Sandy and now paying it forward, Scholars’ Academy students and staff are starting a Toy Drive this week. Their goal is to gather 750 toys for homeless children by November 24. Spread the word to local organizations and residents. Toys, books or games for kids ages 7-16 years old, should be new and unwrapped. All donations will be anonymous. Donations can be dropped off at the school. Contact guidance counselor Gianfranco Moretta for more info at gmoretta@scholars nyc.com, or call 718-474-6918, ext. 1114

Reconstruction of the Peninsula’s bulkhead along Jamaica Bay continues. Crews have been seen installing rebar, the steel understructure, along Beach Channel Drive nearBeach 108th Street and getting ready to pour concrete.

We mentioned “Rockaway After the Storm”, which “documents the first summer and fall after the storm as the urban beach community re-builds, re-thinks, and re-invents.” Preview the new trailer atwww.rockawayafterthestorm.com.

Dr. Jonas Salk, who would have turned 100 on October 28, developed a vaccine for a disease called poliomyelitis which mostly affected children. For an idea of what a real public health crisis looks like, look up “polio” in the 1950’s.

On October 27, Councilman Donovan Richards and his staff held a ribbon cutting ceremony with the principal and students of PS/MS 183 for their new state-of-theart Apple (MAC) Computer Lab. “My office has invested nearly $5 Million over the last two years for technology, parks, and science labs in our schools and look forward to continuing to do so” Richards noted.

PSEG has opened a new office at 68- 20 Rockaway Beach Boulevard. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, customers can pay their bill and get help with issues. Under New York State’s LIPA Reform Act, they took over power operations for Rockaway andLong Island.

Call it Winter Beach Party in Rockaway. Several establishments are pushing to keep people coming out as the weather cools and keep business going. Last Thursday the Playland Motel lounge drew a convivial crowd with an open mic hosted by Jammin Jon Kiebon.This Friday, Rebaroque Industries, Playland and Holland Helado launch the first installment of Rockaway Winter Session with ‘Halloween Night with DJ PreSkool’.

Rockaway’s Jammin Jon hosts a stellar musical line up on from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, November 9, at the Rockaway Artists Alliance T-7 Gallery, Fort Tilden. All proceeds go to help keep YANA community and social service center in operation.

Christine Strehle from Kennedy’s Restaurant notes, “After two long years we will reopen Kennedy’s inBreezy Point. We are grateful for the grant money we received from National Grid. The $75,000 aided in the reconstruction process which was hindered by financial difficulties and ultimately got us closer to the completion of the project.”

Broad Channel saw hundreds come out as kids and their parents got into the spirit for the annual Children’s Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 25. Organized by the Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department, the riot of costumes and color marched from17th Road Park to the ‘Vollies’ Firehouse on Noel Road where treats were given out and enjoyed.

The Tuesday after Halloween is Election Day. Boo! Spookier still is that more money is being poured into this year’s election races, more than any in American history. A remarkable feat in a stuttering economy. Want to scare people, Rockaway? Go out and vote with your own mind and for your and your community’s own best interests
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