Beachcomber

Once again Santa’s Sleigh Run is coming to town. Courtesy of Make- MyMotherProud, there will be dancing elves, singing Santa’s helpers, toys, and Santa Claus! Santa will even stop for pictures! Listen for the Christmas music from 10 a.m. this Saturday, Dec. 20, and look for them to make 15 to 30 minute stops at Beach 25th Street bungalows,Beach 40th Street, Beach 56th Street, Beach 67th Street, 71-15 Beach Channel Drive, Hammels and Beach 116th Street. More info? Contact 646-373-9683 ormmmproud@yahoo.com.

Toys For Tots NYC and We Care New York are teaming up for a Holiday Toy Event on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 140 Beach 112th Street. It’s also supported by the Marines Toys for Tots and Scholastic Books.The free event will feature toy distribution while supplies last, new books and a meet and greet with Santa Claus and friends.

The Rockaway Artists Alliance is having an amazing doll house exhibition, artist talk and workshop by member and artist Arianna Rose, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20 and 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. at RAA’s T-149 Building at Fort Tilden. It’s free and there is plenty of parking. Take the kids, and yourself, out for a treat.

As reported in the Communities Of Color newspaper, “Downtown Rockaway boasts over 200 businesses in its corridor. It is the largest district in Rockaway and Broad Channel.” Currently there are plans ready for a pedestrian mall on Beach 20th Street, set to break ground in February and plans to spruce up and finally develop the Far Rockaway shopping center. Work is also going on to move the Time Warner sponsored computer learning lab to the Renaissance Center near the Mott Avenue Atrain station and also establish meeting and conference facilities there.

It is with sadness that The Wave marks the passing of Michael Lucev. Michael was the son of noted Rockaway historian, author and longtime Wave contributor Emil Lucev. Our condolences go out to the Lucev family, from their Rockaway family here.

“You are not alone across the world.You are not alone across time.” –Bryan Doerries, actor, writer and facilitator said at the end of audience discussion of the Theater of War: Soldiers and Citizen’s presentation of Ajax at the Rockaway Theatre Company.

“Since 2001, more active-duty U.S. troops have killed themselves than have been killed inAfghanistan, and suicides among reservists and National Guard members are spiking…” –The Washington Post. For help call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), the National Suicide Prevention Helpline and press 1 if you are a veteran or an active duty service member. Be well.

Strange things have been sighted on the Rockaway Little League’s fields at Fort Tilden. Seems that RLL has placed what appear to be mock-ups of small, feral animals, like wolverine or badger decoys, all over the fields. No doubt this is to scare away birds, especially geese, and keep them from doing what they do across the playing field grass.

Stan’s Pepper Steppers, based in Far Rockaway, have won more than 30 world competition titles. Their latest team to give it their all and take home the prize at the Double Dutch Holiday Classic at the Apollo Theater consisted of Javon Langston, Safiya Hazel, Armani Graves and Breanne McKenzie.

Broad Channel has enlisted Congressman Chuck Schumer and Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder in its push to get back its post office. According to the Broad Channel Civic Association, in early 2014, a Postal Service representative approved their application for a new Contract Postal Unit there.The All American Channel Market on Cross Bay Boulevard proposed to operate it in its store. But in June, the USPS informed them that the application had in fact been denied, citing a lack of need for postal services in the island community. The agency has since agreed to re-review the application, but has not made a decision yet.

Elegante Restaurant and Pizzeria has been doing business in Rockaway for 33 years as of this year. Not even Sandy could keep it down.

From the old Wave e-mail box: “With 30 million green-bean casseroles set to appear on (holiday) tables…, I’m writing to suggest a story for The Wave of Long Island on a fun holiday survey: “New York is ranked #20 in the U.S. for love of green-bean casserole, according to the Del Monte Green Bean Index.”Kentucky, by the way, rated at #1, in case you were wondering. But we are tied with Michigan!

“Dr. Rene Carlson recently trekked to the North Pole to perform necessary veterinary exams on some very special patients: Santa’s reindeer.” – The American Veterinary Medical Association

According to the Glendale Register, after a substantial Board shakeup initiated by Borough President Melinda Katz, the Queens Library has made progress in several areas.These include the start of work to reopen the Peninsula Library branch and the chartering of a Friends of the Library group for the Arvernebranch.

Santas come in all sizes. A little girl dressed in a red suit, complete will a big white beard attached to the costume, was seen waving to passersby on Rockaway Beach Boulevardnear Beach 99th Street.

“Enough- No More Tickets.” Signs have begun to appear on Beach Channel Drive near speed camera locations advertising ‘photo blockers’ for license plates.

Nassau officials are drafting legislation to repeal the speed camera program in that county. This comes after driver protests and the revelation that Nassau is taking in more than $224,000 a day in fines. According to Channel 12 News, as of late October this added up to $4.3 million. On Dec. 8, County Executive Steve Bellone announced that Suffolk was killing their speed camera program, which was set to roll out next year.

Happy Holidays To All!