Rockaway Reads! The Friends of the Beach 59th Street Playground Association and Donna’s H.O.P.E. will host a Literacy Festival at the Beach 59th Street Playground on Sunday, August 16 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It will be a fun day of free activities, including author read-alongs, backpack giveaways, face painting, zumba and a hula hoop contest.
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The annual St. Rose of Lima carnival will take place the evenings of August 19-23, starting at 7 p.m. Expect plenty of food, rides and games on Beach 84th Street.
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Swim to the Channel. Registration is open for VICAM/BCAC Swim Program. It is open to boys and girls from first to ninth grade within the Virgilius-Camillus parish. Practices are held at the YMCA. In-person registration for both teams will be at the BCAC building on August 19 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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In a tragic déjà vu, two teenagers went into the ocean Sunday evening near Beach 84th Street after lifeguards had left their chairs. Only one survived. A dozen or more lifeguards raced from the shack and were able to rescue an 18-year-old boy but his 17-year-old companion was lost. FDNY pulled the younger boy from the water a block away but it was too late to save his life despite the combined efforts of first responders and the EHS emergency room. The Rockaway Times sends its condolences to the family of the boy who died and to the survivor.
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Get your car cleaned for a good cause. On Saturday, August 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be a “Suds for Scholars” charity car wash at the Battalion Pentecostal Assembly in Arverne. Proceeds will fund scholarships for local students. The $40 suggested donation includes breakfast.
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A new financial resource has opened in Arverne by the Sea. Municipal Credit Union (MCU) opened its newest branch at 6820 Rockaway Beach Boulevard (old Chase location) on Monday. Kudos to Assemblyman Khaleel Anderson for helping make this possible.
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Bye-bye birdies. The piping plovers and oystercatchers are no longer nesting on the beaches from Beach 42nd to Beach 46th Streets so the beaches are open to humans. Only swim when lifeguards are on duty.
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Hello birdies. The 21st Annual Shorebird Festival is on Sunday, August 16 at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the visitor center located on Crossbay Blvd. at 10 a.m. for a hike to the East Pond to see the many species of shorebirds migrating south (yes, already). Enjoy a kid’s walk plus a digital slide program on shorebird identification, behavior and migration given by Don Riepe at 12:30 p.m. Free for all ages. For info, contact don@littoralsociety.org
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Queens Carnival is a little more than two weeks away. In addition to the colorful parade, expect an all-star lineup of Soca and Reggae musicians, including Yankee Boy, Ricochae, Anika Berry, Anslem Douglas, Lady Sparkles, Iwer George and Mr. Easy.
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Check out the Rockaway Ocean Club this Saturday and Sunday as the old Riis Bathhouse opens its doors to the public. The courtyard will have music, food, and drinks from 5 to 10 p.m. both days.
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Join the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy and the National Park Service on Saturday, August 22 at Floyd Bennett Field for a kickoff to National Park Week. Enjoy a variety of experiences including kayaking on Jamaica Bay, visits to the Ryan Visitor Center, and tours of historic Hangar B to view vintage aircraft.
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Good news from Citi Field! Mrs. Met has been elected to the Mascot Hall of Fame, joining her husband who was inducted in 2007. Highlight of the Mets’ season?
