High Tide
Can you believe that The Rockaway Times celebrated our tenth anniversary yesterday? We sure can’t! On June 26, 2014, this paper published its first issue and has continued to publish every Thursday since! This paper would not be here if it were not for its founder, Kevin Boyle, who had a vision and worked his tail off every day to better it. He handed us off this gem, which when we took over, we told you our goal was to change it as little as possible. The Rockaway Times’ foundation was more solid than we could have imagined, and we continue to work to maintain that. We are extremely thankful to our awesome staff — Katie McFadden, our managing editor and our team of reporters and columnists, Mary Ellen Olsen, our manager who handles our ads and puts it all together, Monica Clifford, who does our billing and legal notices and just about anything else that needs to be done, and Fred Marino, who handles sales. It is because of them and the care they put into the paper each week that we are still here — better than ever. All of us here at The Rockaway Times are so incredibly thankful to the amazing community for all the support we have received over these 10 years. So, thank you very much, and happy birthday to us!
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We also could not let this time go by without thanking our awesome advertisers who have remained loyal over these 10 years. Without them, we could not have put out this FREE paper each week for the last 10 years! Please support them and when you do, tell them you saw their ad in The Rockaway Times. They keep us going!
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Advertisers and readers reminder: Due to the July Fourth holiday, next week is a short week for us. The deadline will be Tuesday, July 2 at 12 noon. The paper will be delivered on Wednesday, July 3 and the email version of the paper will go out that morning as well.
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Last Wednesday, Juneteenth, was a very hot and crowded day at the beaches! All over social media, locals were complaining about the traffic and ferry lines. The crowds were so huge at Riis Park late in the day that the Rockaway Beach Volleyball League had to cancel all the scheduled matches that evening!
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We think this idea’s a hole-in-one. Friday at noon, swing by Beach 96th Street for the soft opening of Rockaway’s newest attraction: Putt Hut — a new mini golf course nestled right behind the boardwalk. Balls and putters will be available for rent.
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We hope all the students and teachers who have finished or are finishing up the school year this week have a wonderful and well-deserved summer break.
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This past week, locals Sean Green and Tess Howley competed at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials for the chance to represent the U.S.A. in the Paris Olympics this summer. Both swimmers have posted impressive times amongst the star-studded field. Both accomplished the huge accomplishment of making the finals – that is being in the top eight in an event! Green was in the 800m freestyle finals — the youngest competitor in the finals for that event. Howley was in the 200m butterfly finals. Both came up short of making the Olympics, but we at The Rockaway Times could not be prouder of them. We will continue to watch these two … 2028 is right around the corner!
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Here’s a reminder that St. Francis De Sales’ renovations to the church will start next Monday, July 1. During the summer, all Masses will take place in the school gymnasium. The goal is for the renovations to be completed by Labor Day.
