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ROCKAWAY POINT NEWS

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Serving

The Point Since 1925

RPA Senior Thanksgiving Fri. 11/17 4PM

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VOL. XCVI, NO. 45

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023

FREE

New Mayor At The Helm In Roxbury

Last weekend, a time honored tradition was once again observed as the peaceful transfer of Roxbury power was officially handed off from the outgoing Mayor Glen Taphouse to the New Mayor Michael Esposito, who was elected this past Summer. On hand for the mayoral installation gala were many members of the fraternal club, Esposito family members and well-wishers who all greatly enjoyed the festivities which included music by the band Catnip, lite cocktail party fare and, of course, a few libations. As Mayor, Mike will now be responsible for a good portion of the Club's social festivities and fundraisers.

In his first official speech to his electorate Mike said "Roxbury is a unique place that I call home. I look forward every year to partaking in some special weekends packed

with friends, old and new. This place called Roxbury defines the word tradition. There is always some sort of party awaiting around every corner and there is something good for everyone. I am sure that we, as a whole, can agree and appreciate the fun traditions that have been put in place by the founders of this club, the Roxbury community and the Mayors that have served before me. I promise that I will do my best to continue to carry out these duties as the Mayor for the 2023/24 term."

He then went on to thank his loving family for their support and positive response when the opportunity came along, and expressed his gratitude to the Mayor's Committee Board, outgoing Mayor Glen Taphouse and Kevin Fox for their guidance and encouragement throughout the process. Mike fin-

Outgoing Mayor Glen Taphouse hands over the official Mayor license plate to incoming Mayor Michael Esposito.

ished up by saying "I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I truly enjoyed every second of this past Labor Day weekend and look

forward to the rest of the year. I am proud to be part of the tradition, the community and to be your Mayor."

Members of the Esposito families on hand to congratulate Mike on his inauguration as Mayor of Roxbury.

PAGE 2

ROCKAWAY POINT NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023

Rockaway Knights of

Columbus to Honor Memory

of Father James Devine This Sunday, November 12th

Msgr. William F. Burke Rockaway Council Knights of Columbus will be dedicating a plague in the foyer of St. Rose of Lima Church after the 8:00 am mass this Sunday, November 12th in honor and memory of their late chaplain, Father James Devine. Father Jim was raised in Rockaway and attended St. Francis De Sales grammar school. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 28th, 1960, and served for many years as the chaplain of Our Lady of the Skies Chapel at JFK airport.

Father Devine was the pastor of St. Rose of Lima Rockaway Beach from 1978-1988 and faithfully served as the Knight's Chaplain from 2005 until his passing in 2022. He was the 5th chaplain of the Knights in their 96 years of existence in the Rockaways.

The officers and members of the Knights wish to extend an invitation to all to attend the Mass and dedication ceremony. Immediately following, everyone is invited back to the council for a continental breakfast to celebrate a life well lived and in memory of his dedication and devotion to the Catholic church the Knights and our community.

Pray For Peace!

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023

ROCKAWAY POINT NEWS

PAGE 3

EDITORIAL

By Michael Schramm

Smoke Means Fire...

Last Thursday morning as I was putting the finishing touches on the paper a rather concerning alert popped up on my phone saying that New York City Mayor Eric Adams abruptly cancelled his trip to Washington D.C. where he was to meet with White House officials and other Democratic Mayors about the out of control illegal immigrant problem. Being the honed in "journalist" I am (I use that word tongue in cheek, I'm really just a hack), I clicked on the story and lo and behold it seems that after landing in Washington D.C. for this very important meeting, at least in my mind or anyone else who lives in proximity to Floyd Bennett Field, Mayor Adams hotfooted it back to the City because the FBI just raided the home of his foremost political fundraiser, a Ms. Brianna Suggs.

Now I can see cancelling this very important meeting at the White House for say God forbid a terrorist attack on the City, a death of a City employee or even a family problem, but the FBI raiding the home of a fundraiser??? Something was not quite right here, and it had this writer quite perplexed and frankly extremely interested in what was happening and what was so important it couldn't wait a few hours to be dealt with upon his return.

Well, it turns out that the FBI was scrutinizing some very shady looking political contributions made by a Turkish construction firm where some 11 employees all made identical campaign donations in the same one day period in 2021. To add insult to injury, when one donor was asked about the donation he couldn't recall ever making it. That my friends would be illegal...

Upon returning on the turnaround flight the Mayor was rightfully hit with many questions as to why he so suddenly bailed out of the White House Mayoral Summit and, of course, he immediately defended his actions saying that he wanted to "be on the ground" and "find out exactly what was taking place." He further added as to his political fundraising, that he is "extremely comfortable about how I comply with rules and procedures. I've stated this over and over again. I hold myself to a high standard, I hold my campaign to a high standard and I hold my staffers at City Hall to a high standard." He then denied knowing anything about the construction firm at the center of the probe and finished up by saying "Where's there's smoke, there's not always fire." Yeah.... Uh huh, so why exactly did he feel the compelling need to come running back from Washington?

Not for nothing folks as a volunteer fireman for almost 27 years, I can absolutely tell you that where there is smoke, there is always a fire, or the potential of a major conflagration. And when people come running towards said smoke, or away from it, oh yeah there's that's, a fire ... Where this probe ends up going is beyond this writer as many a former mayor, governor you name the position in New York City and State has been caught in the same position of accepting illegal contributions, but come on Mr. Adams don't insult our intelligence. You knew there was fire, that's why you came running back from a meeting you have been pleading to get for the better part of the last year and a half. If you would have just said "someone is trying to fleece my golden goose, I have to get home to protect her, or my cash cow is being taken out of the pasture", I and many others like me, would have understood. Just please don't lie to us.

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ROCKAWAY POINT NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023

VFW News

By Kevin McCann, Post Quartermaster

Today, November 10th is the 248th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. That means that since 1775, Marines have been destroying America's enemies by means of bullets, bombs, bayonets and on occasion their bare hands.

From the Revolutionary War to the present, Marines have served valiantly in every one of our nation's conflicts. When the Continental Congress stood up two battalions of

Marines in 1775, a culture of discipline, vigilance, professionalism and military excellence was born that has characterized the Marine Corps for nearly two and a half centuries. It is only fitting that this band of furious warriors was founded in a tavern Tun Tavern in Philadelphia.

After the Revolutionary War, the Marine Corps was disbanded but not for long. In 1805 President Thomas Jefferson refused to pay ransom and tribute to the Barbary pirates for

kidnapping our sailors. Lt. Presley O'Bannon and 8 of his Marines led a mercenary force 600 miles across the Libyan desert to successfully storm the shores of Tripoli and rescue the crew of the USS Philadelphia. This action ceased the terrorist threats of the Islamic pirates and further ransom demands.

During the Mexican-American War the Marines victoriously stormed the Palacio Nacional (better known as the Halls of Montezuma)

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where they suffered 90% causalities of NCOs and officers. In the early 1900's during the Boxer Rebellion, they protected the nation's interests in China and evacuated missionaries and American citizens. They fought heroically in WWI and the Germans referred to them respectfully as "Devil Dogs." They began the 1940's with a strength of 19,432 Marines but their ranks swelled to 475,000 with the arrival of WWII. In the war, they played a central role in the Pacific Theatre. The battles of Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Tarawa, Guam, Tinian, Saipan, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa saw fierce fighting between Marines and the Imperial Japanese Army. While only composing 5% of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Marine Corps suffered ten percent of all American battlefield casualties.

However, the Marine Corps was not loved by everyone. In the 19th-century President Andrew Jackson wanted to abolish them. In the 20th century, it was Harry Truman's turn. Fortunately, that also failed after a very bitter congressional hearing.

After our military forces had been so drastically cut after WWII, the Marine Corps combined elements of its three divisions and activated its reserves to form a single division to deploy to Korea. At the Chosin Reservoir 12,000 Marines were surrounded by over 100,000 Chinese Communists who were under orders from Chairman Mao Zedong to "annihilate the 1st Marine Division." The Chinese failed.

In Vietnam, more Marines served (794,000) and more became casualties (103,000) than in WWII. Since then, Marines have served in Lebanon, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and other exotic places with the same "espirit de corps" as their predecessors.

Tomorrow, the VFW will observe Veterans Day with a 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Genevieve's immediately followed by a brunch at the Colony. In 1926, Congress voted to observe the end of WWI every November 11th, upgraded it to a national holiday in 1938 and in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. Thus, November 11th of every year became the day to honor the more than 23 million American veterans, who served whereever and whenever in peacetime as well as during a war. This year, we are fortunate to have Kathleen Sullivan as our guest speaker. Mrs. Sullivan is a West Point graduate, a combat veteran from the Gulf War, the spouse of a career military officer who has been deployed multiple times as well as the mother of a Navy officer who also has been deployed.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023

ROCKAWAY POINT NEWS

PAGE 5

WHISPERING BREEZES "Heard around town that..."

Look for more information on the Trot in next week's paper.

Speaking of Thanksgiving there is still time to sign up for and donate to,

looking for volunteers to drop off the meals on Thanksgiving Day, just contact Theresa in the ways listed above.

Unfortunately, we have to send out

the Breezy Cares Thanksgiving Drive. As our sincere condolences to the family

in the past few years the Breezy Cares and many friends of two great guys we

Happy and healthy Veterans Day operative, tickets are $10 a piece and Thanksgiving Drive, will seek to make lost this past week, Mr. Ed Rasmussen

wishes go out to all the magnificent folks can be purchased by calling Jean Ham- the holiday great for our elderly, in need and Mr. Thomas DiMaria. Ed was a

that have served in our country's Armed mel at 917-833-1720 or by stopping into and homebound neighbors. Each meal, great guy, very involved and instrumen-

Forces! Thank you to each and every Breezy Wine and Liquor. The second with all the trimmings and a few special tal in running both the Rockaway Point

Veteran that has sacrificed time, effort event the PBA Middle School (6th, 7th, Thanksgiving treats costs $25. The dead- Yacht Club and Christ Community

and energy to preserve our precious and 8th grades) Thanksgiving Eve Hoe- line to be added to the list is next Friday, Church. He will be sorely missed by ev-

freedoms, never have so many owed so down Dance will take place on Wednes- November 17th; just contact Theresa Flan- eryone that knew him. Tom was also a

much to so few! Thank You All!

day, November 22nd and will feature igan at 718-945-2300 X8673 or via email great guy, a tireless advocate for Breezy

Speaking of Veterans Day, just a re- music, dancing and refreshments for $20 at tflanigan@. If you'd Point who started the Back To Breezy

minder that tomorrow the Veterans of per person. To register please text Chris like to donate to the drive you can drop Facebook page and served as the mod-

our community in VFW Post 8540 and Long at 917-887-5365. The third event off a donation of any size made payable to erator for many years since Superstorm

American Legion Post 1847 will once is the Annual CYO Turkey Trot that will Breezy Point Cooperative, in an envelope Sandy. He too will be sorely missed. We

again be celebrating their day with the take place on Thanksgiving morning at labeled Thanksgiving Drive, in the Coop- pray these great guys rest in peace.

traditional VFW Veterans Day Mass and 9am from just outside the Sugar Bowl. erative Office mailbox. The Co-op is also

Thirty

Brunch. Following the Mass to be held

in St. Genevieve's Church in Roxbury at

9am, the Vets and their admiring sup-

porters will re-assemble at the Colony

Theater for the Veteran's Day Brunch.

Understand there are a few walk-in tick-

ets available for the Brunch, so if you

didn't make your reservation, you can

pay $15 at the door and be present for

the great speaker, awards ceremony and

ensuing celebration. The Guest Speaker

at this year's Brunch will be Kathleen

Sullivan, a West Point Graduate, com-

bat veteran and the wife of career Army

officer and mother of a Navy Officer.

Also, this Saturday evening (No-

vember 11th) the Queens County Saint

Patrick's Day and Cultural Commit-

tee will hold their annual Hearts and

Shamrocks Dance fundraiser for the 49th

Annual Rockaway Saint Patrick's Day

Parade to be held on Saturday, March

2, 2024. The Hearts and Shamrocks

Dance, which begins at 7pm in St. Ca-

millus' Springman Hall, affords the at-

tendees the first glimpse at this coming

year's honorees of the parade is $65 per

person, and comes with tap beer, soda,

corned beef sandwiches, coffee tea and

soda bread as well as the musical stylings

of the Celtic Justice Band. Tickets can

be purchased at Rogers' Pub, through

any Parade Committee Member or by

calling 917-224-8589.

Hope to see a great turnout for the

Breezy Point Cooperative Town Hall

Meeting coming up this Thursday, No-

vember 16th at the Colony Theater be-

ginning at 7pm. On the agenda will be a

Land Management Committee update, a

financial overview, and as is the usual a

Question and Answer period. Questions

for the meeting can be sent in advance

to townhall@ or, of

course, presented at the meeting itself.

With the meeting happening on Thurs-

day night we won't be able to have a re-

cap done in time for next week's paper,

so look for it in our Friday, November

24th issue.

With Thanksgiving just under two

weeks away we have a few great events

coming up. The first will be next Friday

evening (November 17th) as the Rockaway Point Association Senior Thanksgiv-

Member Andersen Dealer Service Network

ing Dinner Dance will take place from 4-8pm at the Rockaway Point Catholic Club. The senior Thanksgiving Dinner Dance is open to all seniors of the Co-

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