At some time in the late 20th Century, the late Sal Arena, an avid Rockaway citizen and dedicated Rockaway Beach Civic Association member, came to me with an odd request. He wanted help bringing the iconic grey whale from Central Park Children’s Zoo to our beach.

Sal discovered that the New York City Parks Department was finally renovating The Children’s Zoo—and the whale was out—he secured her move to the beach. I was willing to help fix her up, if allowed to decorate her with a mosaic of