Welcome to my City of Rockaway Beach Monthly Update with a look back at the month of April 2025 The 3rd Annual Rockaway Writers Rendezvous was held the last full weekend of April I was honored to be a judge for the writing competition and select a student (Trinity Shenk-Williams) entry and an adult (Ann Farley) entry for a Mayor Award Planning for the 4th Annual Rockaway Writers Rendezvous is commencing soon Preparations for the 4th of July are now underway. The City is now accepting parade applications and will be accepting applications for Volunteer of the Year and Grand Marshal soon You may hear about trucks or equipment on the beach near the 600 block of N They will be working to repair rip rap in the area Oregon Parks and Recreation permitted this activity and has oversight The City is working on a Ziply Fiber Franchise agreement for high-speed internet in Rockaway Beach The City is working with Tillamook County Health Department on a lease extension for their satellite office at City Hall The Budget Committee approved the 2025-26 budget and it now goes to the City Council for consideration and adoption during the May Council meeting Finance Director Johnston published the City’s 3rd Quarter (January – March 2025) Financial Report on the city’s website The city continues to operate in a fiscally responsible and conservative manner The Fire Department was awarded the 2025 Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Staffing Grant for 2025 This will allow the department to hire two seasonal firefighters to assist during the busy summer season The Fire Department’s Open House and Easter Egg hunt were very successful Over 100 citizens enjoyed pancakes and a tour of the fire station and the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves The Easter Bunny made appearances at both events Captain Grace is attending the Timberline Emergency Medical Services (EMS) conference this weekend Captain Grace will be able to get valuable continuing education credits and receive updated medical procedure information that he can share with the rest of the department The Fire Department will be hosting an EMT-Advanced course in cooperation with Tillamook Bay Community College this summer This class will be offered to 15 students and is the next step towards becoming a paramedic This class adds IV and medication skills along with more advanced training in medical and trauma treatments Chief Hesse and Councilor McGinnis met this week with Jen Warren who is a Fire Risk Reduction Specialist with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office The meeting began the process of creating a formal wildfire protection plan for the city The Drone pilots in our Fire Department are exploring options to increase our surf rescue capabilities Modern technology and rescue equipment including automatic inflatable rescue rings and flotation devices are being researched for the upcoming summer season Chief Hesse visited with the Insurance Services Office (ISO) and has a meeting scheduled for June 25th to begin the rating process ISO is an organization that provides data to insurance companies to help determine fire insurance premiums He and Captain Grace will begin the paperwork for re-rating Chief Hesse believes the addition of the new ladder truck and other improvements will reduce many of our residents’ insurance premiums for fire coverage The ladder truck project continues to move forward The ladder and pump have now been installed but the salesperson told Chief Hesse to expect about 6 more weeks The Fire Department is now shifting a portion of their training to prepare for delivery and placing the unit in service The Fire Department held its monthly Emergency Preparedness Meeting on the first Wednesday night in April Tillamook PUD joined us this month for a live demonstration on powerline safety Attendees were also entered into a raffle for a chance to receive an emergency preparedness prize for continuing to put together such informative meetings Jetty Creek Watershed Acquisition Updates: Measure 56 notices on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Biological Opinion (BiOp) have been mailed out this week to those with property in the floodplain  Measure 56 notice in Oregon is a notification requirement for landowners when land use laws might restrict their property’s use it mandates that local governments inform landowners of proposed changes to zoning or other land use regulations that could affect their property The notice must state that the proposed changes may affect the value of the property even though it doesn’t guarantee they will the Portland Audubon Society filed a lawsuit to force the FEMA to integrate the Endangered Species Act into their activities FEMA is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the implementation of the plan for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) – Endangered Species Act (ESA) Integration in Oregon FEMA was taken to court again and forced to accelerate their requirements with Pre-Implementation Compliance Measures City of Rockaway Beach residents in the floodplain will no longer be able to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program putting their mortgage at risk FEMA will also not help us in the event of a flood disaster The Planning Commission covered the following at their April meeting: Public Works constructed a new ADA parking stall adjacent to the Wayside Restrooms the Wayside Beach access project is now officially complete We have great news about the High School/Middle School lighting project Neah-Kah-Nie School District Superintendent Tyler Reed was able to find funding to cover the installation costs for the new lights Public Works Superintendent Emerson will arrange installation with the TPUD  Rockaway Beach will be the account holder for the new lights and cover the small monthly service fee Nicely done Superintendents Reed and Emerson Public Works have been busy taking care of our community: Public Works continue to remove graffiti in Rockaway Beach If you see graffiti/tagging in Rockaway Beach please let City Hall know so Public Works can remove it Public Works Director Mary Mertz submitted our Transportation and Growth Management pre-application in April This is the first step in the application process as we seek to secure funding to update the City’s Transportation System Plan Our Transportation System Plan will be a long-range planning document that will guide our transportation policies and investments over a 20-year period Staffing update: Caleb Smith (Plant Operator) and Tanner Kowalski (Utility Worker) have moved on; we wish them the best New hires Tristan Silveira (Plant Operator) and Jesse Eagleton (Utility Worker) are off to a great start The deadline for submitting applications is May 30 The City Council will review the applications and select the top three applicants for interviews at a public meeting Upon completion of the interviews the City Council will appoint an applicant to fill the vacant Council position At the April Workshop we discussed the following topics: If any of the Council activities listed for April are of interest, you can read the meeting materials and view recordings of all Council meetings (except Executive Sessions) on the City Council page Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (TCVA) We had an over 43% increase in the number of users of Rockaway Beach’s official visitor website visitrockawaybeach.org The most efficient way to keep up to date with your city government is to add your email address to the City’s email list through the City’s website If you have ideas to share; questions or concerns about what is going on in the City of Rockaway Beach We and our partners use technology such as cookies on our site to personalize content and ads Click below to consent to the use of this technology across the web You can change your mind and change your consent choices at anytime by returning to this site https://www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/eula-privacy-policy/ Rockaway Beach locals are opposing a proposed ban on bikes on a large portion of the boardwalk this summer. Eagle photo by Ryan Schwach Some local cyclists in Rockaway Beach rallied in opposition to a Parks Department plan to ban two-wheeled vehicles on a busy stretch of the boardwalk this summer The Parks Department plans to ban bikes on the boardwalk from Beach 78th Street to Beach 108th Street the busiest and most visited portion of the Rockaway coastline The proposal is intended to limit collisions and injuries between cyclists and pedestrians particularly around the crowd concession areas Rockaway locals are not thrilled with the plan the city needs to do more with signage and enforcement to keep “a few bad apples” off the boardwalk but they can never stop the bad apples,” said Community Board member John Cori “The speed demons are going to go as fast as they can past anybody that says to stop.” The community members also say that biking the boardwalk is a part of Rockaway’s culture and tradition Parks’ plan would divert cyclists onto the designated bike lane on Shore Front Parkway which the locals aren’t happy about either “When I go for a nice bike ride on a summer day I want to look at the waves,” said local Bobby Nelson “I don't want to look at parked cars and apartment buildings.” Locals also argue that the Shore Front bike lane isn’t necessarily a safer alternative cars often park illegally right along the lane and beach-goers often cross the bike lane and kids wait on ice cream truck lines right on top of it “We've all seen what the Shore Front Parkway bike lane looks like in the middle of the summer,” said Rockaway Beach Civic Association President Bridget Klapinski “It is not a safer solution to divert additional traffic there.” who rides her own bike on the boardwalk several times a week year round admits that cyclists need to do more to ensure safety along the boardwalk “I think even the nomenclature of a bike lane brings a certain sense of entitlement to cyclists that they sort of own that space,” she said and more enforcement directed at the most dangerous riders Local City Councilmember Joann Ariola is supportive of the ban which will run from Memorial Day Weekend through Oct Cyclists will have a brief window from 6 a.m every day during that stretch to take their bikes out on the boardwalk "It's regrettable that a few bad apples have spoiled it for the bunch but this was ultimately deemed necessary for the safety of everyone,” Ariola said “We've seen too many people hurt because of motorized bicycles and speeding cyclists and we want to avoid that going forward.” The Parks Department has heard the complaints but is looking forward to more feedback from the local Community Board 14 The policy is similar to that in Coney Island and Orchard Beach in the Bronx “We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to the Rockaway Boardwalk this summer,” a Parks spokesperson said “To make sure the boardwalk is safe and accessible for all users this summer we’re establishing pedestrian-only hours on the busiest stretches of the boardwalk We encourage cyclists to use the protected bike lane that runs in both directions on Shore Front Parkway as an alternative.” Home / Law / Crime / Politics / Communities / Voices / All Stories / Who We Are / Terms and Conditions Happy Jack’s has been bringing joy to Rockaway Beach Drive with their burgers and fries but now his little brother is drawing attention right on the corner a casual Italian deli with ginormous focaccia sandwiches and baked goods galore Order a Tony Soprano and you’ll get a focaccia sandwich piled high with the makings of an entire Italian butcher shop beef steak tomato and smeared with a Grana Padano crème for added flavor but Jack’s Parm brings it to the next level with a thin crispy cutlet fresh mozzarella and that Grana Padano crème Vegetarians may opt for the Surfer with grilled market vegetables and roasted red pepper crème with an option to add fresh mutz These sandwiches will make your eyes go wide when you see the size of them But pair it with some homemade potato chips or a classic side salad and you’ve got your meal for the day And don’t forget the A’ Siciliana or Stewarts soda to wash it down or a fresh cappuccino or macchiato to add some pep to your step the sfogliatelle or a slice of mom’s cheesecake for later Jack’s Corner is ready to serve it all up for dine in with even delivery to the beach in personalized Jack’s Corner lunch boxes that you can unfold as a flat table to keep the sand out of your focaccia But you’ll want to see what they’ve done with the place at the corner of Beach 109th which used to be home to Coastal Frozen Yogurt Jack’s Corner is a completely different place but inside you’ll find some tributes to their neighbor Your eyes will take you in every direction as you peruse the selection of baked goods croissants and deli salads in the front display A few blue tables and stools welcome you to have a seat while you eat as you’ll feel like you’re in a museum looking at classic Rockaway postcards one with a personalized message written back in Rockaway’s heyday—”Rockaway is the coolest place And Michael Caruso and Aidan Dalton are making it even cooler with their dream spot They’re familiar faces at Happy Jack’s as Aidan’s following in his dad and many have gotten to know Michael as he’s worked his way up from Happy Jack’s delivery guy to bartender to manager But now Caruso and Dalton have branched out on their own They’ll still be taking care of business at Happy Jack’s while running the show at Jack’s Corner they couldn’t resist the opportunity to spread their wings He’s a master chef at what he does with Happy Jack’s I came out here looking for a delivery job during the pandemic and I fell in love with the restaurant business and Rockaway I always knew I wanted to own my own business so I partnered up with Aidan who said the corner was for sale and we knew it was the right spot for our first venture on our own,” Caruso said but I’ve been coming to Rockaway since I was a kid and bartending here made me fall in love with it The people really took me in as their own and have shown me so much love over the last five years This is my chance to give back and show them a piece of me a piece of Brooklyn and a piece of where my family came from in Sicily and bring it back to the beach with a Rockaway twist.” “I’ve been doing this with my dad for over a decade now and some of my favorite times as a child were in the kitchen,” Dalton said “We’re really excited about turning this new leaf over and we’re excited to see what we can add to the block.” The young men got the spot in October and set out to build it out “I’ve been to places like this my whole life and I always wanted to open a place where I’d want to hang out “We immediately started working on the focaccia and pastries to see if we could pull this off and Mike was a huge help Caruso and Dalton opened their door for a few hours and let friends and family know to stop by to give everything a try and everyone made us feel like this will be something great for the beach We’re bringing not only value but high-quality food here,” Caruso said people were blown away with the size of the sandwiches The bigger-than-your head focaccia sandwiches are the star of Jack’s Corner with a pre-set menu of Jack’s Top 10 10 sandwiches with a little something for everyone but people may also be able to personalize their own picks Then each sandwich is topped with a homemade crème personalized for each number on the top 10 Caruso and Dalton can’t wait to officially open “It’s really exciting to see all of our hard work come to fruition and for people to taste what we’ve been previewing,” Caruso said 32 Rockaway Republican Club Candidates Make the Ballot and website in this browser for the next time I comment independent news source that provides the Rockaways with a unique voice The paper is distributed for free throughout the peninsula and is available online at rockawaytimes.com Hell Gate is owned & run by journalists covering NYC Columbia graduate student Mohsen Mahdawi, who was kidnapped by ICE during the final stages of his citizenship interview, has been freed on a federal judge's order Queens Councilmember Joann Ariola says she's brokering a "compromise" with the Parks Department that will roll back their 35-block bike ban and allow cyclists to keep cruising After news of a sweeping Rockaway Boardwalk bike ban hit the peninsula like a flat tire Rockaway Beach's City Councilmember says she's working to broker a compromise that would allow New Yorkers to keep pedaling on the boards.  Councilmember Joann Ariola told Hell Gate that she met with higher ups at the Parks Department earlier this week to talk them down from their initial proposal: prohibiting all bikes on the 35-block stretch of boardwalk from Beach 73rd to Beach 108th through October 1 "They're going to come back to the community with what would be a proper compromise that wouldn't jeopardize safety [and] people could still enjoy their boardwalk," Ariola said adding that she expected a new proposal from the Parks Department before Memorial Day worker-owned news outlet about New York City named for the city's sturdiest (and handsomest) bridge over its most treacherous currents Designed and developed by Partner & Partners Original logo by Olive Panter You've successfully subscribed to Hell Gate Check your email for magic link to sign-in Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Far Rockaway native Sean Aiken wants more pizza in the Queens beach neighborhood. So much so that he’s been running popular seasonal Neapolitan pie pop-up Seany Pizza for the past several years. And now, he’s going to open a new, permanent pizzeria this summer. Beginning this May or June, Crown Square Pizza can be found at 99-02 Rockaway Beach Boulevard at Beach 99th Street Crown Square Pizza hopes to offer something new for the neighborhood — even if it requires some pizza education for those more familiar with NY-style slices there’s enough people that it will attract even in the off-season but I just want to do something that feels just a little bit out there The Rockaways is a distant place and we don’t get too many concepts out here.” Aiken’s pizza journey started in his youth growing up and eating pizza throughout Queens and the city he randomly decided to buy a pizza cookbook That sparked a new fixation on making pizza on his own while he worked as a manager at Brooklyn Bowl at the time Crown Square Pizza’s 800 square feet space will be mostly taken over by the kitchen along with counter seating inside and along the window Aiken is already thinking about solidifying his delivery and pickup services for cold off-months Aiken tagged Chris Cristiano and Emma Hastil of the newly formed Mates company to help figure out his branding Aiken plans on still running his Neapolitan seasonal pop-up Seany Pizza “I hope the local community comes away with the idea that this is as much for us as it is for [me] to build a business,” Aiken says “I want people to feel good and I want Rockaway people to feel connected.” He adds “The Rockaways have been through so many changes It’s exciting and I want to be part of it now.” All the new restaurant openings in New York this month Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More more New Yorkers will head to Rockaway Beach to both walk and bike on the boardwalk the Parks Department announced a new rule banning bikers from cycling on the boardwalk between Beach 108th Street and Beach 73rd Street The aim is to prevent accidents between bikers and pedestrians “I believe that the boardwalk is pretty safe I’m out here all the time — we do have designated bike lanes I think it’s just people respecting the boundaries of where they should be,” walker Tanea Reynolds said The policy is set to go into effect Memorial Day weekend through October 1 but bikers will still be allowed on that stretch of boardwalk from 6 a.m The Parks Department says these rules are already in effect at other busy city beaches like Orchard Beach and Coney Island cyclists will be directed to a protected bike lane on Shore Front Parkway that runs along the boardwalk during the busiest parts of the day,” a Parks Department spokesperson said in a statement Some bikers said the rule unfairly targets cyclists who come to the boardwalk to cycle and enjoy the beach views Clearly this [the boardwalk] was made with bikers in mind I think it’s unfair to paint bikers with a broad brush that they’re all speed demons,” cyclist Rob Yasharian said “We’ve been biking here for many years and we’d like to continue doing that They should really change the rule,” Boris Kleyman said worry about the bikes hitting them,” pedestrian Ira Browne said Rockaway bike riders held a rally to stop the summer bike ban in wake of a policy being proposed by NYC Parks to ban bikes from the boardwalk between Beach 73rd and Beach 108th Street after 9:30 a.m. more than 30 people gathered at the Beach 94th Amphitheater to have their voices heard The rally was spearheaded by local activist John Cori after NYC Parks’ proposed policy was revealed earlier this month Parks says they want to implement the policy for safety reasons so bikers would be banned from the busy stretch on the boardwalk and would be redirected to the street-level bike lanes on Shore Front Parkway through October 1 “We’re here to fight this issue because we’re not gonna roll over and play dead,” Cori said “The people here all fought to get this boardwalk to be rebuilt We forced elected officials to get the funding Parks looked like a star because of the people in Rockaway We need people to make sure the concession area is closed to bike riding and have a safe jersey barrier type system to let people know to stop and we need Parks to put people there telling riders to dismount who uses her bike to get to work at the Peninsula Library “Shore Front is more dangerous for me than me riding through the boardwalk The boardwalk should be for everyone,” Barber said “We all love Rockaway for a lot of reasons but one of them is the ocean I don’t want to look at parked cars and apartment buildings We’re attempting to punish the 99 percent of people who do everything right instead of the 1% of people who do everything wrong Increase the enforcement of the existing rules and we have no problem.” Cori chimed in about the bike lanes on Shore Front saying “We can’t be forcing hundreds of people into a single file bike lane where parents can’t watch their children.” He also suggested that there be a big push to get more funding for the Parks Department in the City budget so they can hire more people to enforce the rules and incorporate barriers or better signage A woman with a sweatshirt for Paul’s Bicycle Shop suggested that there be more police riding bicycles to enforce the current rules and make sure pedestrians and bike riders are in the correct lanes along the boardwalk who rides an adult tricycle to work on the boardwalk said and we ride our bikes together almost every day as a family I’m sure there are many that have special needs people and those who are not physically able to do a lot of things besides ride a bike It’s not fair to penalize the 99% doing the right thing instead of those who are not being responsible and considerate.” Major Fire Tears Through CALLAHEAD in Broad Channel [Dramatic NFL Draft Chime] And with the first pick of the 2025 NFL Draft… the best college football players got drafted to the NFL you’re witnessing someone’s dream come true I like seeing where the players are located during the draft Those who went in person got their own fake living room to sit in and wait The guys who attend in person are the best of the best But c’mon—you’re the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft The players in attendance are always dressed to the nines They are wearing custom designer suits and insane jewelry The number of diamonds in that room was just sickening You can see where all that college NIL money really went where else would you see Swarovski diamond Crocs (Hopefully nowhere because it’s disgusting.) Chains even gold-plated initial brooches—every accessory imaginable was on display Then there are the other players watching from home balancing a phone call from an NFL GM while auntie is screaming in the background You can tell who came from old Southern money I love getting a look into their lives … and living rooms had his house packed from the kitchen to the staircase The most interesting part for me is the GIRLFRIENDS I’m obsessed with watching these soon-to-be millionaires holding hands with their fabulous (hopefully) girlfriends These girls saw potential in the weird-looking jock and now they live lives we can only dream about Then there are the girlfriends that won’t make it past preseason their DMs will explode—and that relationship will disappear there are the ones who look like they put in work to get their fake booties on that couch They fought with momma during the commercial break for a spot next to the star She’s holding onto her man’s hand for dear life She might’ve dated three other players before landing the one most likely to go pro She’s not in love with the player—she’s in love with the contract To see the small percentage of guys who just beat all odds They looked around at their life and decided to change the pattern knowing they just changed their family’s future Maybe it’s the social worker in me but it gives me chills here are my key takeaways from this year’s NFL draft: Cam Skattebo a cornerback from the University of Kentucky gave every draftee picked before him a handshake and hug on their way to see the commissioner but after acting like an arrogant A-hole in meetings or what their combine stats were—they made it We just watched 257 young men’s dreams come true Hopefully your team got the player it needed Let’s get these boys out of the hot pink suits Lady Celtics Win Championship at Zero Gravity Tournament Kumar’s family and about 50 others searched for the missing 17-year-old after leaving his grandmother’s house A friend had called police to say he was missing He was last seen heading to the Cross Bay Bridge and the last ping on his phone was from the Jamaica Bay area NYPD and the Coast Guard searched the waters has watched the decline in NYC and his hometown for several years now homelessness and human trafficking are reaching an all-time high DiMiceli’s reason for doing this type of work and creating an organization comes from a deeper pain His vice president Edward Weitrack will take any measures necessary to Protect Our Children Peter will be with his team at the Missing Children/Denim Day event at at 11 a.m Rose of Lima if you would like to meet him and learn more about his organization He will also be conducting a workshop on cyber safety against predators Also he is working to get an important bill passed See his website for more or sign the petition at the event Anyone with any information about Kumar Narine’s whereabouts is asked to call the NYPD’s crime stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS Every product is independently selected by editors Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission My delusions of homeownership in Rockaway began I had seen the “For Sale” sign zip-tied to its chain-link fence while on a walk with my dog one afternoon and the house was a block and a half from the ocean a broker was walking me through the home’s three stories of original parquet floors and stained-glass detailing using words like entertainer’s kitchen and motivated seller she continued to narrate my future life in the house you should expect to replace your boiler every 20 years or so,” she said I smiled and nodded like I already knew that “The good thing about this neighborhood is that none of the boilers are more than 12 years old and growing interest among newly remote New York City office workers had transformed what was once a fairly insular working-class community into a rapidly gentrifying enclave of relatively cheap In the two years I’d lived in the neighborhood I’d seen old duplexes converted into shiny new Airbnbs and modernist mid-rises advertising ocean views and “sponsor unit specials.” On Zillow I sifted through a collage of matching stainless-steel appliances Most were builder grade and already beginning to look dated A meticulously renovated bungalow owned by some art-world macher that I toured after the Victorian had a chef’s kitchen It also had a top-of-the-line sump pump tucked discreetly among the spalike features of the primary bathroom I struggled to imagine a room so pristine filling with murky floodwater It’s not like I hadn’t thought about climate change before I’d dodged heavy machinery crawling across the beach to reinforce the sand dunes with concrete and steel I had shared and dutifully contributed to fundraisers to help restore a flooded home or local business But considering these things while staring down the barrel of a 30-year mortgage was different Was I really ready to buy a house at the end of the world as we know it Superstorm Sandy was just that — a superstorm the kind of bad fortune that skips a generation Waves careened over the boardwalk and houses were reduced to rubble warming oceans are leading to stronger and more frequent hurricanes the real existential threat to the Rockaways — and the thing that kept me up at night while restlessly calculating expenses — is far more banal roughly 95 percent of structures in Rockaway Beach sit in what is known as the 100-year floodplain a property in this floodplain has a one-in-four chance of flooding over the span of 30 years (It also means you are required to have flood insurance in order to get a mortgage for that same time frame.) In Rockaway those floods are primarily tidal floods — not raging storms but the combination of long-term sea-level rise and short-term ebb and flow of the waves as the moon orbits the earth Buying a house in the neighborhood I loved just one inch of water in a home can cause more than $10,000 worth of damage; 12 inches which is incidentally the projected sea-level rise for the East Coast by 2050 But those rising seas would hit more than just my bank account: Flooding can lead to widespread issues with infrastructure and city services Could I still catch my bus if the roads flood Will I have to cancel plans or work from home every time it rains What about emergency services like fire trucks and ambulances How long will my gym or grocery store be out of commission if it gets inundated but that’s probably not going to happen.”) I tried to make sense of things by talking them out One real-estate friend told me to look into FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program which is basically like rent stabilization for flood insurance and can be transferred from the previous homeowner for even lower rates Another local friend tried to reassure me with the free market: You can always sell There will always be someone who wants to buy a beach house living in Rockaway meant more space for the money The rental income in the summers was an added bonus It’s not like they didn’t know or believe the climate-change projections “there’s nowhere else where you can wake up and then be in Manhattan an hour later.” The people I talked to were reassured by the way the neighborhood had rebuilt after Sandy too: I loved Rockaway because it was a community that had come together before in the face of disaster and would stick together as the tides keep rising While I awaited a response from the seller I started planning a housewarming party to keep the visions of climate doom at bay I landed on an apartment in Bed-Stuy — no beach though I still go to Rockaway most weekends sometimes just to split a blueberry muffin from my favorite coffee shop with my dog I miscalculated the overlap between the falling tide and the onset of an edible I wandered past a playground so new the paint is barely dry It was golden hour and hard not to feel the tug of a neighborhood I loved so much weather-worn sign memorializing Hurricane Sandy’s storm surge on October 29 which is marked by a red line that towers well over my head Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York Utility Work Planned from March 3 Through March 14 West Main Street (County Road 601) will be closed between Nichols Drive and Mt Pleasant Avenue in the Borough of Rockaway for various utility installations related to ongoing site development located at 216 West Main Street The project is managed by RPM Development Group and will be performed by Harrington & Sons Construction Company Work is scheduled to be underway from March 3 through March 14 Residents will be provided with access where possible ensuring safe passage through the work zone Accommodations will be made for postal services please contact The County of Morris Division of Engineering and Transportation at 973-285-6750 Newsletter sign-up and archive EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this story reported a March 11 election date still listed on the Rockaway Township School District referendum website on Monday that has been postponed due to a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection determination that would prohibit a planned school expansion ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP — More classroom space for a growing student population is just one reason why the school board is asking voters to approve nearly $100 million to build new facilities and improve existing spaces in the six-school K-8 district But a referendum vote planned for Tuesday has been delayed "The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has identified the [Dennis B O'Brien School] site as a habitat for the Indiana bat (which is true of huge swaths of the East and Midwest) and has classified a storm culvert that runs beneath Interstate 80 and through a storm pipe on the DBO property as a Category I stream," the board wrote in a separate update statement "This complicates our ability to move forward with the planned improvements." The district is now considering an alternate date for the referendum vote “We have always believed that now is the time to invest in the future of our community and our children,” Superintendent Dr “While the district and Board have shown due diligence in pursuing this important project the delays we are encountering are deeply concerning." The board remains committed to the referendum plan "Our district is growing at a rapid pace," the board states in its online referendum web page it has placed a strain on our facilities as we work to serve more students within the same spaces Our student population has increased significantly over the past four years." The district counted 2,431 students during the past school year That compares to 2,386 in 2022-23 and 2,231 in 2018-19 before a period of annual decreases turned around the increasing number of students requiring related services (occupational therapy physical therapy) has also placed a strain on our facilities," the district statement stated "Serving all of these students requires additional space." High school students in the district attend the Morris Hills Regional district (Morris Hills and Morris Knolls high schools) Additional needs covered by the referendum would include capital improvements to all five elementary schools and Copeland Middle School The plan also calls for building a new early childhood learning center and Board of Education offices at Dennis B That annex would be built on the school's current football field we will reduce overcrowding at all elementary schools," the district stated The vote is scheduled for Tuesday at regular polling locations in the township The plan calls for construction of a new annex at the O'Brien School for the new classrooms All schools would also receive security and safety improvements Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA accessibility improvements and capital improvements The district provided a list of additional specific improvements at each location: Birchwood Elementary School proposed improvementsLibrary and expanded cafeteria Conversion of former kindergartens into general classrooms to reduce overcrowding Special education improvements Parking and traffic flow improvementsImprovements to all-purpose sports/athletic fieldCatherine A Dwyer Elementary School proposed improvementsConversion of former kindergartens into general classrooms to reduce overcrowding Special education improvements Building-wide window replacements for energy efficiencyKatharine D Malone Elementary School proposed improvementsSecurity and safety improvementsNew gymnasium conversion of the existing gym into a cafetoriumA new main office and a nurse's officeConversion of former offices into special education and support spacesConversion of former kindergartens into general classrooms to reduce overcrowdingWindow replacements for energy efficiencyAdditional parking improvementsDennis B O'Brien Elementary School proposed improvementsNew gymnasium conversion of the existing gym into a cafetorium with new kitchenExpanding HVAC to accommodate additions A second entrance/exit onto the DBO campus will be constructed for improved access and to accommodate emergency vehicles.All-purpose sports/athletic field appropriate for full community useStony Brook Elementary School proposed improvementsA classroom addition and conversion of former kindergartens to reduce overcrowdingHVAC and ventilation improvementsCost of improvements to taxpayersThe total cost of the project would be offset by state funding that cannot be accessed without a voter-approved referendum The term of the referendum bond is 30 years For the owner of a home assessed at at the township average of $410,000 the estimated impact would be $423 per year over those 30 years The district did not release the amount of available state funding saying the state Department of Education was still reviewing its application the district will consider "short-term solutions" including redistricting changing grade configurations with each school "It’s important to note that these responses to a failed referendum only address some issues and represent short-term solutions," the district advised they address none of the safety and security concerns and the overarching facility concerns in our schools would persist." Video available at: https://youtu.be/O7kyC5lSxjE State-of-the-Art Gotham Health Community Health Center Advances Mayor Adams’ Efforts Alongside Local Elected Officials to Strengthen Health Care Access and Equity on Rockaway Peninsula New Center Will Provide Primary and Specialty Care NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards today announced that construction is now underway on a new 22,000-square-foot Gotham Health community health center that will provide comprehensive health care services to residents of Far Rockaway The state-of-the-art community health center will expand community members’ access to primary care The Adams administration has contributed $30 million to cover the cost of retrofitting the space and providing advanced medical equipment “As I said in my State of the City address last month our goal is to make New York City the best place on the globe to raise a family and keeping families healthy is essential to keeping families in the five boroughs,” said Mayor Adams lack of access to services has been a barrier to health care and opportunity for underserved communities here in Southeast Queens we are bridging the health care gap and investing $30 million to provide vital medical equipment for everyday New Yorkers.” “New York City’s public hospital system provides care to New Yorkers without exception including where they live,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr “The opening of the Gotham Health community health center in Far Rockaway will make critical primary and specialty care services readily available to residents of the peninsula who for too long have needed to travel elsewhere to access the care they need We are thankful to Mayor Adams and Queens Borough President Richards whose advocacy and investment made the construction of this clinic a reality.” “The construction of the Gotham Health center in Far Rockaway will bring critical health care services to a historically underserved community,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Kimball “NYCEDC is thrilled to have helped facilitate funding for this health center as a continued commitment to our Downtown Far Rockaway Roadmap for Action We look forward to working together with NYC Health + Hospitals and Queens Borough President Richards to support the Far Rockaway community.” “This new clinic expands access to high quality affordable health care for the Far Rockaway community,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health CEO Michelle Lewis. “With both primary and specialty care services we are ensuring that patients are able to receive comprehensive coordinated care. This clinic reflects our commitment to health equity and our mission to provide exceptional care for all New Yorkers.” “It's been a decade since I convened the Downtown Far Rockaway Working Group to lead the groundbreaking $288 million rezoning of this incredible community and the dividends this initiative continues to pay in this community are astounding I couldn't be prouder to have worked tirelessly alongside so many government and community partners to deliver this critical investment in the health of Far Rockaway families as we bring the days of deliberate disinvestment in this neighborhood to an end,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr families on the peninsula have experienced higher rates of numerous diseases comprehensive preventative care offered at this $30 million new NYC Health + Hospitals facility represents a massive step forward in making Far Rockaway a healthier and stronger community The residents this clinic will serve deserve nothing less than the best.” The new community health center — located at 1720 Village Lane in Far Rockaway — is expected to open in 2027 and is strategically designed to bridge health care gaps in Far Rockaway where community members have historically had limited access to care Borough President Richards played a crucial role advocating for the center and ensuring it will provide comprehensive health services and promote health equity for the Far Rockaway community.The facility will offer a full spectrum of primary care services The Adams administration has prioritized helping New Yorkers live longer, healthier lives with its HealthyNYC initiative which aims to extend the average life expectancy of New Yorkers to 83 years by 2030 preventative health care can help screen for cancers and manage chronic diseases This new community health center fulfills a core commitment of NYCEDC’s “Downtown Far Rockaway Roadmap for Action” and Mayor Adams’ “Rebuild, Renew, and Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery.” “I applaud the start of construction for the new Gotham Health Community Health Center in Far Rockaway,” said U.S “Every New Yorker deserves to have access to quality healthcare services and this $30 million dollar investment will significantly increase access to healthcare in the Rockaways and contribute to keeping our communities safe and healthy I remain committed to advancing this effort through my work in Congress by supporting legislation that will protect and strengthen our healthcare services to deliver live-saving care to my constituents and visitors.”   “Far Rockaway has long been in need of expanded healthcare services and the construction of this new Gotham Health facility is a significant victory for our residents,” said New York State Senator James Sanders Jr “This investment means better access to primary and specialty care and children can receive the medical attention they deserve right in their own neighborhood I look forward to seeing the positive impact this center will have on our community’s well-being.” “The groundbreaking of the Gotham Community Health Center in Far Rockaway marks an important moment for our community,” said New York City Council Majority Whip Selvena N Brooks-Powers. “With significant new development in Rockaway we must ensure that essential services keep pace with the growing demand This investment will bring preventative services—including primary care and mental health—directly to our neighborhood While this center will provide much-needed preventative care we remain steadfast in our push for a Level 1 or Level 2 trauma center on the Rockaway Peninsula Katz for their leadership in expanding healthcare access and I look forward to continuing to work together to build a healthier future for Rockaway.” pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov(212) 788-2958 By: Max Gillespie 7:00 am on April 15 A new mural is underway at 326 Rockaway Avenue, an affordable housing development in Brownsville Artist Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez has begun painting King of Love a 150-foot work that will be permanently installed on the side of the new building The mural is being created as a result of ArtBridge’s ongoing initiative to transform construction sites into public art displays and is surrounded by imagery such as boxing gloves It is expected to be completed in approximately three weeks Designed by Aufgang Architects and developed by Slate Property Group and RiseBoro Community Partnership 326 Rockaway Avenue stands 14 stories tall and yields 215 units Building amenities include a community center Transit nearby 326 Rockaway Avenue includes subway stations served by the A Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews ga('send', 'event', 'beautyofblock', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Standard_336x280-100-2.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ADVERTISEMENT ga('send', 'event', 'PCRichards Builders Division', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PCR_Beko_Compact_YIMB_336x280.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ga('send', 'event', 'yimby+', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/image.png', { nonInteraction: true }); Follow on Instagram var sb_instagram_js_options = {"font_method":"svg","placeholder":"https:\/\/newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/instagram-feed\/img\/placeholder.png","resized_url":"https:\/\/newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sb-instagram-feed-images\/","ajax_url":"https:\/\/newyorkyimby.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}; © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY® LLC YIMBY IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF NIKOLAI FEDAK / NEW YORK YIMBY LLC Tried getting to the Rockaway Townsquare mall lately Thanks to the now infamous sinkhole that has closed Route 80 nearby patrons at one of the region's largest malls have changed their shopping habits to avoid drives that have ballooned in length from five minutes to upwards of half an hour The side roads are all a mess,” said Michele George who lives in Rockaway with her husband and two kids the area features plenty of big box stores as well as a movie theater and other smaller strip malls Businesses across downtown Wharton have faced the brunt of traffic from the Route 80 sinkhole closure which has redirected traffic onto local roads an old mining community that long ago became a suburban homestead with a thriving North Jersey downtown has become a victim of its legacy as a collapsed section of Route 80 ― built over the Mount Pleasant mine ― has choked the borough's streets with detours and squeezed local businesses to the breaking point Since the discovery of the sinkhole in February, the state Transportation Department announced repairs will take longer than expected due to the possibility of additional voids in the area resulting in the shutdown of westbound lanes The entirety of Route 80 at Exit 34 is now closed And DOT officials have "identified 90 locations to be assessed and mitigate potential instability or possible voids." Gov. Phil Murphy said on March 22 that repairs could take another two months which is owned by real estate giant Simon Property Group did not respond to multiple emails on whether the sinkhole-induced traffic has kept people away from the shopping center Rockaway Townsquare said that multiple retailers at the mall were extending promotions called “special sinkhole deals” to “shoppers who have endured so much inconvenience during this time.” The deals range from 10% off at Nathan’s to happy hour specials at P.F 50% off lenses at LensCrafters and 50% off shoes at Dream Pairs There are also events at the mall “designed to provide a delightful escape from the daily traffic,” such as a brunch and egg hunt on April 5 a Girls’ Night Out on May 8 and a May 10 event offering glimpses of emergency vehicles and dump trucks a lakeside town in Sussex County to the northwest of the sinkholes With his morning commute time to East Orange swelling by two hours “I’d prefer to have several stops planned before venturing out,” he added said she avoids the area around the mall "at all costs." [but] I can't waste time all day long," she admitted labor and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record Email: munozd@northjersey.com; Twitter:@danielmunoz100 and Facebook By: Vanessa Londono 6:30 am on April 17 Permits have been filed for a nine-story mixed-use building at 18-15 Cornaga Avenue in Far Rockaway Located between Morse Court and Mott Avenue the lot is near the Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue subway station Ami Weinstock is listed as the owner behind the applications The proposed 94-foot-tall development will yield 77,628 square feet with 62,947 square feet designated for residential space and 5,815 square feet for community facility space most likely condos based on the average unit scope of 676 square feet The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar JFA Architects and Engineers is listed as the architect of record Demolition permits have not been filed yet An estimated completion date has not been announced This will improve neighborhood character a ton More of this in Far Rockaway and Saint Albans please Follow on Instagram var sb_instagram_js_options = {"font_method":"svg","placeholder":"https:\/\/www.newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/instagram-feed\/img\/placeholder.png","resized_url":"https:\/\/www.newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sb-instagram-feed-images\/","ajax_url":"https:\/\/www.newyorkyimby.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}; © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY® LLC A vacant city-owned plot of land could be the future site of a level one trauma center in Rockaway and the city has committed to getting it through. Screenshot via Google Maps  Though a number of major questions remain about the city’s early efforts to bring a long-desired level one trauma hospital to the Rockaway peninsula the city recently checked off a big to-do off their list – figuring out where it will be built Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has committed a vacant city-owned plot of land on Beach 62nd in the heart of the Rockaway peninsula for the trauma center which locals have been calling for for more than a decade in their recent response to the mayor’s executive budget said they are looking for money to get the site squared away located on Beach 62nd Street along Rockaway Freeway is currently owned by the New York City Housing Authority and will need to be transferred to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services NYCHA must get federal approval from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development and the city must pay $300,000 for the transfer which the City Council included in its Fiscal Year 2026 budget response “With the mayor’s commitment to making the NYCHA site on Beach 62nd street and Rockaway Freeway available for the trauma center the Council calls on the administration to allocate $300,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 to complete the federal land transfer process and secure the site,” City Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers who has long advocated for the trauma center “I would like to thank the administration and my Council colleagues for their continued support in this effort This funding would move the project one step closer to reality—and bring life-saving emergency care within reach for residents of Southeast Queens.” a task force dedicated to studying the possibility of bringing a trauma center to the Rockaways – which is spearheaded by Brooks-Powers – identified the land as a possible site The report pointed out the area would not require any demolition is near a subway station and not adjacent to nearby residences Brooks-Powers' office said that the Adams administration privately committed to the Beach 62nd Street site after last year’s budget when the city put $25 million into the proposal – but neither the councilmember nor the mayor have mentioned it publicly “I continue to work in partnership with the administration to advance the creation of a long-overdue level one or level two trauma center on the Rockaway Peninsula,” Brooks-Powers said Her office confirmed that the administration’s commitment to the site came after budget negotiations last year and a working group has been established to get it through the land transfer process city and state officials rallied in support of a trauma center on the Rockaway peninsula City Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers and Lynn Schulman Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and State Assemblymembers Khaleel Anderson and Stacy Pheffer Amato. Eagle file photo by Ryan Schwach City Hall said the mayor has committed to the goal of using the site as a trauma center and that preliminary discussions are ongoing “Mayor Adams believes strongly in the need for equitable access to health care access across the city,” said a City Hall spokesperson “That’s why the Adams administration has invested $50 million in capital funds to support the development of a trauma center in Far Rockaway and $30 million for a health center on the peninsula We continue to work with the community and City Council to increase access to health care in Far Rockaway.” The potential site is located smack in the middle of the peninsula something future neighbors are happy to hear “I think it would be a win-win for all of the Rockaway residents that live here,” said Edwin Williams the president of the Heart of Rockaway Civic Association which represents the Arvene neighborhood at the center of the peninsula “It would be a home run for everyone in Rockaway.” Williams sees the potential location as a true benefit for all of the peninsula from the west end to the eastern end and Far Rockaway – which has long struggled with healthcare options “It's completely congested further east,” Williams said “They've been doing a lot of dense building over there so I think it's a little more open right in the middle…that might be an ideal location to work if they can work out the logistics.” and I hope they move all the bureaucratic red tape out of the way and make it happen,” he added The calls for a trauma center on the Rockaway peninsula have been steadily growing since the closest level one trauma center for most Rockaway residents is around 10 miles away at Jamaica Hospital which takes more than half an hour to get to often made more difficult by ever-present traffic on the Van Wyck Expressway “The nearest trauma center is nearly 10 miles away a distance that can mean life and death in an emergency situation,” Brooks-Powers said at a rally last year While it has long been considered a long shot a trauma center in the Rockaways has gained significantly more traction in the last two years with endorsements from Mayor Adams as well as Council Speaker Adrienne Adams while there is a site planned and some money allocated toward the project Rockaway is still far from getting the facility they want Rockaway would need the state to approve either a level one or level two trauma center which categorizes the type and level of service a trauma center is capable of providing and anything less would mean that any new hospital would lack the ability to address the two types of trauma incidents officials want treated in Rockaway: shootings and drownings There have been questions about whether or not Rockaway has enough trauma cases to reach the requirements for a level one or level two center but city health care officials and Brooks-Powers said the licensing has already been discussed with state health officials the land transfer would need to be approved by the federal government and the $300,000 would need to be included in the city’s budget officials called on Governor Kathy Hochul to kick money in as well but the governor has yet to respond to those requests Local officials are hoping that there can be money allocated in the state budget this year for the center “Governor Hochul I hope you're listening to all of us,” Speaker Adams said at that rally “Because we need you to invest your time and the state's dollars to present the deserved equity for these great people of this great Rockaway peninsula.” At the beginning of the parade will be this year’s Grand Marshal who will be joined by several other honorees It seems the sun will be shining on the Irish as the 50th annual parade will have a 50-degree day on Saturday The festivities will begin with a Mass at 9 a.m This year’s honorees and their families will then have a breakfast at the Knights of Columbus before heading back uptown to Beach 130th Street to line up and then continues down Rockaway Beach Boulevard to the St Camillus parking lot at Beach 100th Street The grandstand will be around Beach 105th Street Among this year’s honorees are honorary grand marshals Vice President of the Central Royalty Container Collection Fund of the International Longshoreman Association and the United States Maritime Alliance There are also 12 deputy grand marshals this year including retired NYPD officer John Tansey Brian Sharkey of the New York Corrections Department Emerald Society and Grand Council United Emerald Society James Moroney of Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 21 Tribute Park stained glass artist Patrick Clark Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians members Joanne Larcheveque and retired NYPD officer Catherine O’Connor New York Guard 2nd Lieutenant Melissa Farrell Brendan Gallagher of the Irish American Building Society Account Executive for Fidelity National Title’s New York National Commercial Services (NCS) operation many know him as a co-owner of Callie’s on Beach 129th Street and as a regular volunteer for local activities and organizations Originally from the Flatlands section of Brooklyn Mullin had been coaching basketball for about 30 years Mullin jumped right into coaching after finishing college where he was a teacher and basketball coach for about 11 years including serving as director of the girls’ league for about 10 years he started the Rockaway Celtics basketball AAU team and he even ran his own Mullin Basketball Camp in the summer for neighborhood kids help with the Stephen “Shakey” Conway Scholarship Fund and got involved with HeartShare Human Services And when he and his partners opened Callie’s in 2020 “We give back to the community that’s been so great to us and supported us,” Mullin said Now the community has an opportunity to cheer Mullin on at Saturday’s parade But despite all that he’s done for Rockaway Mullin remains humble about being named the grand marshal for the 50th Annual Queens County St “I was very honored and a little surprised I know there’s so many other men and women that are worthy of this and there’s so many people in the community that do so many great things Francis de Sales are filled with people looking to help and there’s a lot of people who do things behind the scenes and don’t look for accolades I know there’s a lot of other men and women who easily should have been honored,” Mullin said and many of his children will be coming back to town just to see him march and he’ll be driving up for the weekend to join their siblings I also have a bunch of friends coming in that live outside of Rockaway and close friends in Rockaway who will be supporting as well,” Mullin said Many of them also joined him at the annual dinner dance fundraiser at Antun’s on February 8 “It was a great night that was well attended Parade president Michael Benn and his team but everyone got there and got home safely and hopefully everyone will be there on Saturday,” Mullin said the weather will be better on Saturday and Mullin is looking forward to marching for the first time in the place he calls home “This is an honor and we’re lucky to be a part of the Rockaway family and the St Rockaway is a great place to raise a family and I’m very fortunate to be a part of it,” he said Mullin will be marching after the County Tyrone Pipe & Drums band “My grandparents on my dad’s side were from Tyrone a small town called Six Mile Cross,” Mullin shared Mullin will find himself at the place grown from roots he planted in Rockaway—Callie’s will be serving corned beef and cabbage and other Irish delights on the menu All are welcome to join in the post-parade celebration Assemblywoman Seeks Nominations for Women of Distinction With a four-month A train shutdown to the Rockaways set to begin Friday the MTA is urging straphangers to plan ahead for service changes that may affect their commutes trains on the A line will not run between Howard Beach-JFK Airport and Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue or Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street and won’t run at all during the first weekend of the shutdown The MTA said critical infrastructure repairs to the train line are expected to take until Monday the transit agency is offering a plethora of alternatives for commuters to get from one place to another Here’s what you need to know about service changes and alternatives while the shutdown is in effect During the first weekend of service changes 20 until repairs are completed in May:   Commuters will have a number of service alternatives during the construction period the MTA will run free Rockaway Park Shuttle trains between Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue and Rockaway Park Beach-116th Street riders will be able to take free shuttle buses for service to and from affected stations free shuttle buses will run on two routes: Riders will be able to take the following buses LIRR trains will run between Far Rockaway Station and Manhattan or Brooklyn via Jamaica during the shutdown The MTA will be reducing the fare for the LIRR’s Far Rockaway Ticket to $2.75 each way while repairs are underway these discounted tickets will only be available for purchase at the Far Rockaway Station or via the TrainTime app with location share on so the app can confirm you are near the Far Rockaway Station The MTA is advising riders to purchase round-trip tickets at the Far Rockaway Station if they plan to return to that station the same day as Far Rockaway Tickets aren’t available at other stations In preparation for a possible rise in Rockaway ridership, NYC Ferry is implementing the following adjustments to the Rockaway route: The NYC Ferry's Rockaway route will continue to operate hourly between Wall Street/Pier 11 and the Rockaway port at Beach 108th Street Officials say they'll monitor ridership and make adjustments as needed TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. The wait is finally over — Rockaway Pizzeria 3.0 will open in Regent Square next week. Owner Josh Sickels said the new location’s grand opening on Braddock Avenue will take place starting at 11 a.m. on May 2. But the wait to actually get a slice of pizza will be much longer, Sickels said, as he expects it could “for sure” exceed two hours. “I would just expect very long waits for pizza,” he said. “Please be patient with us for the first few weeks.” Rockaway, once based in White Oak, earned widespread praise from many locals as one of the top pizzerias in the region. Its reputation received an extra boost after a visit and high rating from Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy. Rockaway’s hours in Regent Sqaure will be 3-9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Sickels said the pizza shop will be closed Sunday and Monday for now. In the summertime, he said hours will be extended after the grand opening hype dies down. Pizza will be available for dine in and takeout, and it will be available on a first come, first served basis, according to Sickels. Because he sources some ingredients from New York City and Italy, sellouts “are very likely to happen.” “When it’s out, it’s out,” Sickels said. A post shared by Rockaway Pizzeria (@rockaway.pizzeria) Dine-in seating is available for around 45 people inside the new Regent Square locations and a few tables will be added outside as well Guests can take advantage of the BYOB policy Sickels said the pizzeria will do its best to answer phones amid the in-person rush of people “We do have a phone that we will be answering as much as possible,” he said “The phone might take second place to the in-person orders.” Portnoy visited Rockaway’s White Oak location in the fall to review Sickels’ pizza and wait times subsequently skyrocketed “I would imagine the same thing would be happening,” he said of the new Regent Square location “As we get busier and continue to grow (call-in orders) became something that became very unmanageable for us.” There’s a chance call-in orders could be eliminated altogether since people tend to prefer more grab-and-go style food in the city “City food traffic seems to be more of a steady thing,” he said This is Sickels’ third iteration of Rockaway Pizzeria as he only keeps one location open at a time It’s because he still makes the pizza himself He said he suspects this will be his final iteration of the pizzeria in Pittsburgh “I don’t have a reason to go anywhere else after this,” Sickels said Megan Swift is a TribLive reporter covering trending news in Western Pennsylvania she joined the Trib full time in 2023 after serving as editor-in-chief of The Daily Collegian at Penn State She previously worked as a Jim Borden Scholarship intern at the Trib for three summers Stay up-to-date on important news from TribLIVE TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need 1-800-909-8742 © 2025 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved About Us Advertise Career Opportunities Contact Advertising Contact Circulation Contact Newsroom Contact Us Feedback Request Correction Resource Center Scholarship Opportunities Send Letter to the Editor Send News Tip Subscribe Subscriber Services Blog eFeatures Email Newsletters eTrib Facebook Home Delivery Instagram LinkedIn Marketing Minute Store Locations TribLIVE App - App Store TribLIVE App - Google Play X (formerly Twitter) Arts & Entertainment Best of the Best Business Directory Circulars Contests Coronavirus Lifestyles Local News YaJagOff Obituaries Opinion Our Publications Photos Real Estate Sports Video Weather Cookie Settings Privacy Policy Terms of Service The Tenth Annual Rockaway Times Photo Contest is now officially open there’s no doubt  Rockaway’s got talent and we like to put the spotlight on peninsula shutterbugs the Top 30 photos selected are made poster-size and put on display on the boardwalk And some honorable mentions get placed at the ferry dock The Top 30 this year will feature five photos from the category “Ferry Photos” and five photos from the “Jamaica Bay and Rockaway Parks” category The final category will be “Rockaway Life” — that means anything and everything that has to do with this great peninsula The winning photographer wins a $500 Grand Prize and ever-lasting bragging rights now the IMPORTANT STUFF: The deadline this year will be at NOON on Monday We would love to see a photo of your adorable pet Judges will only consider pictures that convey a local theme You are allowed to submit up to FOUR (4) photos They must be high resolution (some of those phone photos just don’t cut it; resist sending fuzzy out-of-focus pictures) and the photos must be of Rockaway or of the ferry/on the ferry/from the ferry This is The Rockaway Times Photo Contest and we’re sure your vacation photos are great but we’re sticking to a Rockaway theme You must submit your name (or the name of the photographer) and please know that The Rockaway Times may use any of the photos as we see fit (in the paper only send photos you have taken or have rights to or permission to use We’ve had instances in the past where people shared great photos from professional photographers and even from Rockaway Times staff members into the contest Even more IMPORTANT STUFF: Send to the CORRECT email address Submit your top photos to Contest@Rockawaytimes.com We will still print our Local Color feature each week but that’s a separate email and contest photos sent there cannot and will not be considered Contest tip: We know we’ll get lots and lots of beautiful sunsets and sunrises but that means it’ll be tough for your photo to really stand out Maybe your picture of kids on the beach or a great boardwalk scene or something that screams “That’s Rockaway!” will be the one that captures the judges’ eyes Lauren Devine won the judges over with her awesome winning shot of her son Any more than 4 from the same photographer will not be considered We’re thrilled to have our co-sponsors back for this year’s contest The Jamaica Bay–Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC) who will be sponsoring the NYC-Ferry who will be sponsoring the Ferry Photos category Thank you for helping to make this one of the summer’s great events By: Vanessa Londono 7:00 am on March 7 The affordable housing lottery has launched for 326 Rockaway Avenue, a 14-story mixed-use building in Brownsville Available on NYC Housing Connect are 85 units for residents at 50 to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI) ranging in eligible income from $37,453 to $115,560 There are no fees for amenities and all utilities are included in the rent there are three studios with a monthly rent of $1,095 for incomes ranging from $37,543 to $62,150; 34 one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,368 for incomes ranging from $46,930 to $69,900; 10 two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,642 for incomes ranging from $56,298 to $83,850; and four three-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,897 for incomes ranging from $65,040 to $96,300 there are 20 one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,660 for incomes ranging from $56,915 to $83,880; 10 two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,992 for incomes ranging from $68,298 to $100,620; and four three-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,301 for incomes ranging from $78,892 to $115,560 Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than May 5 The pool at The Rockaway Hotel and Spa in Rockaway Beach the Pool House at the Rockaway Hotel and Spa is surprisingly busy a mom and her toddler daughter frolic in the pool The 61-room boutique hotel, nestled on a quiet corner in Rockaway Park "We get a good mix of business," he says everything from weddings and small corporate meetings to couples or families looking for a few days away it’s the perfect place for a girls’ weekend or a quick staycation "People were desperate for things to do," says Comis Now, the hotel is bustling — earlier this year U.S. News & World Report named it the second-best resort in New York City (if you must know first place went to the Margaritaville Resort in Times Square) Guests will find an intriguing mix — big-city flair combined with offerings typically found at much bigger resorts (several restaurants starting in the lobby with its bleached wood and an ivory color scheme brightened with bold graphic pillows but opened in May for direct access to the pool and its two cedar barrel saunas A partial view of the junior suite at The Rockaway Hotel and Spa A standard king room starts at 190 square feet "We like to say the rooms are cozy," says Comis "They are smart." Drawers are hidden under the beds which are high enough to store luggage underneath and eight one- and two-bedroom bungalows that feature expanded balconies and small kitchens "Every room has a view," says McLeod "either of Jamaica Bay or the Atlantic Ocean From the East End and NYC day trips to weekend road trips and beyond By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy "We really don’t think guests are going to spend a lot of time in their rooms," says Comis Quiet spaces for reading or chilling can be found in the Pool House or on the rooftop where guests can lounge or have a quick meal named for the grandmother of one of the owners the hotel stresses sustainability (no single-use plastics branded water bottles with refilling stations) with offerings ranging from massages (hot stone mother-to-be) to facials and body treatments (the Sea Serenity wrap sounds like 80 minutes of bliss) Guests can also get a chair massage or reflexology by the pool The hotel provides bikes for exploring the peninsula and the beach and boardwalk are a four-minute walk away The hotel will arrange for a paddle board or surfing lessons (Rockaway Beach is the only place where surfing is legally allowed in the city) or for a sailboat charter around Jamaica Bay a historic oceanfront military park now part of the Gateway National Recreation Area where the salt marshes are home to numerous birds but McLeod says they hope it will be open by summer.) Margie's restaurant and The Rooftop bar at The Rockaway Hotel and Spa goes to the Rockaway Hotel several times a year She grew up in Queens and went to the beach as a child so visiting the hotel is something of a homecoming for her Ennis and some friends stayed in one of the bungalows for a weekend One of Ennis’ favorite things about the hotel is its involvement with the neighborhood "They embrace the community," she says whether sponsoring a fundraiser for a local organization or offering swimming lessons and summer camps to neighborhood children Guests were invited to join a beach cleanup for Earth Day Also notable at the hotel is a curated collection of paintings and photographs by up-and-coming artists "There’s such a heavy arts presence on the peninsula," says Comis "We want to enhance that," she says noting that the hotel will occasionally sponsor an exhibition or a talkback with an artist The hotel features wellness services and workout classes the vibe at the Rockaway heats up considerably and the hotel is finalizing plans for special events along the lines of the Wellness Week that took place in April But what really gets things going is the summer concert series with the indie-rock band Nude Party playing on a second-floor sundeck (tickets are $41.20) Other concerts — everything from surfer jam to R&B says Comis — are scheduled through Labor Day weekend with many of the rooms overlooking the stage with a live band playing a few floors down?) It’s all in keeping with our goal of making this a destination for people A standard room at the Rockaway Hotel and Spa starts at just under $250 for a weekday mid-May; a two-bedroom bungalow starts at $1,000 with a minimum-night stay required (long-term rates can be arranged depending on availability) The $50 (plus tax) amenity fee covers things like a welcome drink complimentary local rides in the house cars when available Restaurants and the spa are open to the public; spa guests have access to the pool one hour before treatment Summer day passes to the hotel start at $50 pending availability and day of the week More info therockawayhotel.com The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months Come next year, one Morris County town may be in line to vie for the title of "doughnut capital of America." Rockaway Holding Group LLC recently announced that it had signed a 15-year lease for a 125,000-square-foot property on Green Pond Road in Rockaway Township where it intends to produce "over 1 million donuts a day," to a news release said The company will move from its current 40,000-square-foot bakery in Lodi to expand operations and become "one of the largest donut manufacturing facilities in North America," the statement said "This facility will serve as a transformative hub for Rockaway Holding Group, enabling them to support their client at an even greater scale," said Daniel Foley, executive managing director for Savills a real estate services company that represented Rockaway Holding in the transaction "That's a lot of doughnuts," he added in an interview Foley would not reveal the name of the company that will sell the doughnuts but told the Daily Record "These doughnuts are being manufactured for one company Notably, perhaps, the announcement spelled the end product "donut," as does doughnut industry leader Dunkin' An email to the Dunkin' corporate office in Canton No dates are available on when the current facility will close and the new one will open Why did doughnut maker choose Rockaway?The move marks a significant expansion for Rockaway Holding Group which will transfer employees from Lodi and create new jobs in Rockaway Township "hundreds" of employees will work at the site at 25 Green Pond Road which is next to The Barn restaurant and near a Route 80 interchange More: North Jersey's development boom is expected to continue into 2025. What's in store "The building really checked a lot of boxes," Foley said also a significant portion of the building has air conditioning The 300-car parking was also important for them to execute and expand their operation They will be able to add a few loading docks After learning of the deal for a major property in town Mayor Joe Jackson said Rockaway Township "is very excited to have them opening and creating job opportunities." The 13.7-acre property is zoned for industrial use were represented by Stephen Sander and Steve Elman of Cushman & Wakefield William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com; Twitter/X: @wwesthoven