Greetings Neighbor,

I hope this email finds you and your loved ones well!

I am writing to formally announce my decision to step down from my role as President of the Edgemere Community Civic Association, effective immediately.

It has been an honor to work alongside so many of you who care deeply about our community. There has been many challenges in my short tenure, and there will be more to come. All I ask is that we stick together as a community and help one another because what affects one, affects all.

I am happy to announce your new President, Jack Epter, who has been a resident of Edgemere for 35 years, currently serves on Community Board 14 for 6 years, and is Co-Chair of the Parks Committee. Jack has a background in service, extensive knowledge of the community and is a great fit to lead this civic.

I am grateful for the support, collaboration, and trust you have given me throughout my tenure. I remain committed to the continued success of the association and will do everything I can to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve. I look forward to supporting the association in new ways in the future.

With sincere appreciation,

Sonia Moise

Greetings Neighbor,

Congratulations to Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers on her re-election as our Councilmember for District 31!

***ATTENTION***

beacheats.org

DONATE BY CLICKING HERE

Municipal Credit Union is Coming to Arverne By the Sea

Follow Up on Shelter

ECCA reached out again and as of today Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers stated “I have not heard back from the Commissioner over at DSS. I will have Rodney from my team reach out to Assistant Commissioner Hooks to request a status update.” We will continue to keep the community posted but while you’re waiting please contact the Councilmember’s office to respectfully deny this shelter be converted into an all men’s shelter at the information below. We thank you in advance for your support!

Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers Contact Info: (718) 471-7014/ email: district31@council.nyc.gov

Greetings Neighbor,

Follow Up on Shelter

As of yesterday, ECCA hasn’t received a response from Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers other than her office reached out to DSS to state “formerly requesting a pause on any change to the LaQuinta within my district.” We will continue to keep the community posted but while you’re waiting pls contact the Councilmember’s office to respectfully deny this shelter be converted into an all men’s shelter at the information below. We thank you in advance for your support!

Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers Contact Info: (718) 471-7014/ email: district31@council.nyc.gov

Greetings Neighbor,

You may have heard about the upcoming conversion of the shelter on Beach 43rd and Rockaway Beach Blvd. In 3 days the current shelter will house 135 unhoused males. As per DSS, they don’t have to inform anyone but they did call some of the elected officials on October 16th. The Edgemere community and the rest of the east end of the Peninsula has had more than our share of shelters. There are so many questions but it seems like the city doesn’t prioritize the children. I encourage you to please call Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers to voice your concern. ECCA has reached out to no avail. We need all members of this community and those who reside outside of this community to give support against this conversion for the sake of all lives within the Rockaway Peninsula.

Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers Contact Info: (718) 471-7014/ email: district31@council.nyc.gov

We will inform the community if there is any change in the outcome of the below request from Community Board 14!

Greetings Neighbor,

Below is a picture of the passageway on Beach 41st Street and Edgemere Avenue, that leads to the boardwalk. We reached out to NYC Parks to do a cleanup so those who reside in the neighborhood can access the boardwalk safely.

We then received a phone call from Superintendent Chief Laura from the Department of Sanitation who stated it is their responsibility to clean up this area and it should be taken care of no later than August 22nd. We will stay on top of this unsafe eyesore and inform the community when this is done.

ICYMI: the beach is now open in this community from Beach 43rd- Beach 47th Streets with 6 lifeguards on duty. Please visit, enjoy and have some fun in the sun! ☀️😎

Civil Service Now NYC offers a convenient, one-stop resource for all civil service-related inquiries. With this new URL, employees and the public can easily access answers to their civil service questions in one place, eliminating the need to navigate multiple emails or points of contact.

Greetings Neighbor,

It is our pleasure to announce that the beach in Edgemere is open from Beach 43rd- Beach 47th!!!! We never thought this day would come and we are forever grateful to our Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, Assemblymember Stacey Phefer-Amato, Congressman Gregory Meeks, NYC Parks, Community Board 14, other civics and allies who stood by us as we fought for so long to have access to OUR beach. To add, there are 6 lifeguards on duty, so go have fun and soak up some sun. Woohoo!!

Greetings Neighbor,

On August 6th, Queens Borough President Donovan Richard announced the Arverne East Aquatics Center coming to the Rockaway Peninsula in the near future. In addition our QBP donated $26M towards this aquatics center which will provide swim safety and swim equity. Arverne East Aquatics Center will also provide and indoor and outdoor pool with continuous swimming lessons.

We would also like to thank the following elected officials and agencies for donating and fighting for swim safety and equity: Governor Kathy Hochul, Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, Stacey Phefer-Amato, Senator James Sanders, Jr., Congressmen Gregory Meeks, NYC Parks and the Arverne East Developers. Lastly, we would like to thank Edgemere Alliance for joining in the plight for this aquatics center. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here!

Shawn Slevin (Swim Strong Foundation), Sonia Moise (ECCA), Natasha Carter (Flying3Sixty), Donovan Richards (QBP), Jacqueline Rogers (Edgemere Alliance)

Greetings Neighbor,

We hope this email finds you and your family well! Queens Borough President Donovan Richards will be announcing the new Arverne East Aquatics Center coming to the Rockaway Peninsula tomorrow, August 6th at 11am. The location for this announcement will be held on the Rockaway Beach Boardwalk at Beach 32nd Street, directly adjacent to the future site of the Arverne East Aquatics Center. In case of rain or oppressive heat tomorrow, the backup location will be the Arverne East Nature Preserve Multipurpose Center.

Please attend if you can and pass this on to your neighbor!

Greetings Neighbor,

We’re hoping this email reaches you and your family well. We are requesting your input about beach access in the Edgemere community. There has been meetings with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and NYC Parks about access to our beach in our neighborhood, while co-existing with the endangered birds that currently occupies it. Currently, NYC Parks made some ‘revisions’ to our beach access and named it the ‘Dynamic Management Approach’ which has not been published and made available to the public. With your input, we are hoping that more revisions can be made to our beach access as ECCA will continue to fight for this amenity that we all deserve and pay taxes into. Please reach out if you’re interested! See flyer below for more info.

Greetings Neighbor,

Danielle Schaaff from the School Construction Authority will be presenting to Community Board 14 to give more information on the relocation of P.S. 106Q. As you may or may not know, a lot important questions, YOUR specific questions, may not be answered on this night. If you’d like the civic to have a meeting inviting Danielle Schaaf via Zoom or in person, let us know by responding to this newsletter.

To add, as always, please attend this meeting and every monthly meeting to be informed as to what’s going on in our community and all other communities on the Peninsula.

Greetings Neighbor,

Memorial Day History

On May 1, 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina, African American freedmen dug up the graves of Union Soldiers who were buried in various places after fighting in the Civil War. Their goal was to reorganize them in order to honor and commemorate them, all in one place. About 10,000 residents of Charleston, South Carolina, adults and children alike, marched around a race track honoring the dead soldiers. Around 9 a.m. that day around 3,000 black children were released from school and joined them carrying poppies and roses while singing union songs. This american history is now known as the Martyrs of the Race Course, which became the founding of Memorial Day.

Side Note: although those who fought in the Civil War has perished but there are Veterans who fought in various wars who live right next to us, knowingly or unknowingly. While our Veterans fight in wars to protect this country, let’s all be mindful that fireworks that give off explosive sounds can be triggering for them. Explosive sounds from fireworks can trigger those who have experienced traumatic events outside of war. To add, lets think about our furry friends. Studies show that explosive sounds increases their anxiety, just like humans. Enjoy this special day and celebrate the true meaning of Memorial Day.

Update on new location of P.S. 106Q

We’ve reached to the School Construction Authority (SCA) without any response. As of this newsletter, we have not heard back from SCA. We are currently involving Queensborough President Donovan Richards office, Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers office and Community Board 14. We’ve expressed the unprofessionalism and disappointment of this agency. We don’t know if there has been an Environmental Impact Study nor any information that would be beneficial to the community. We understand the importance to relocate this school but the SCA should give this community the respect to keep the lines of communication open. We will continue to keep you updated with any new information.

Healthy Living & You Magazine Stand

Greetings Neighbor,

I hope this newsletter finds you and your family well! I know some of you may be wondering about the ongoing construction at the old Covid site. Just a couple of months ago we were told that nothing will be happening at this site but it’s purpose is to bring a school to this location.

The civic found out earlier this week that this site is for the relocation of P.S. 106Q, Lighthouse Elementary. We have a lot of questions and we’re sure you do as well. We’ll try to get a meeting together with the Queens Borough President’s office prior to them meeting with Community Board 14. Once we have all of the details, we will let the community know so you can attend and become involved. This relocation will not only affect the community but the students and staff who currently attend/teach at P.S. 106Q.

As you know, there will be a lot of changes within this community, from the beach to the bay. Now is the time for us to be not only active, but proactive and come together as a community before it’s too late. For any new construction, we should be aware of, prior to starting not after. It may not change the plans they already have but they can offer conditions to us and we can demand them as well. As a community we should stand up for what we believe in and that’s equity, equality, access to healthy foods, better access to healthcare, access to our beaches, access to a parks for our children to play, better infrastructure so our homes and vehicles won’t flood everytime there’s a high tide or excess amount of rainfall. All of these things are necessary if we want to have a productive life for ourselves, our families and future generations thereafter.

A Train service will resume on May 19th. Click the banner above to find out more!

NYPD CAB Programs For Children and Adults

The Community Affairs Bureau (CAB) of the NYPD has many programs for our children and adults. Please check out their offerings and sign yourselves and your kids up today!

FREE Senior Fitness Walking Program!

Scan to Register!

Lastly, but certainly not least……..

Greetings Neighbor,

🗑️COMPOSTING IS NOW MANDATORY🗑️

If you’re still unsure about what to Compost, join one of the virtual Info Sessions below. Registration required!

• Thursday, April 10 at 4:00 PM

• Thursday, April 24 at 6:00 PM

*Enforcement: Buildings with 1 to 8 Units $25 for the first offense $50 for the second offense $100 for the third and subsequent offenses

Homeowners: There has been an increasing number of wasps/hornets nests in the neighborhood. It is not the city’s responsibility to have it removed, it is the homeowners responsibility. If this is anywhere around your property, please call pest control and have it removed from your property immediately. This can result in fines from the city and possible injury to passersby who can hold the homeowner liable.

📣 Registration is now open for the 2025 Spring Wellness Programs! Your favorite wellness programs are blooming back into action this spring! 🌱

Ready to Feel Better, Move More & Eat Well?
Join one of our FREE Family or Senior Health & Wellness Programs this season!

Healthy Steps, Healthy Plates – Far Rockaway (For All Families)
April 24 – June 28, 2025
Fun, low-impact fitness at Arverne East Community Room (Beach 44th Street)
Nutrition education events throughout Far Rockaway
Perfect for families looking to get active, feel better, and eat healthier—on a budget!

Wise Walking Warriors – Rosedale & Springfield Gardens (For Seniors 55+)
April 26 – June 28, 2025
Energizing fitness in Springfield Park
Nutrition education events in Rosedale and Springfield Park
Ideal for seniors ready to boost energy and build healthier habits!

Both programs offer easy-to-follow fitness sessions and tasty, budget-friendly nutrition tips to support your wellness journey.

Let’s take the next step—together! Register today!

Please register even if you have participated in prior seasons.
https://sc.healthylivingandyou.org/widget/form/jumqELeLsn6dyUcbIY9u?notrack=true

Once you enroll, you’ll receive email updates with all the exciting events and activities your program has to offer in the coming months.

_{^{Generous public support is provided by the NYC Council under the leadership of Speaker Adrienne Adams, with special thanks to NYC Majority Whip Selvena Brooks-Powers. Support from NYS is provided by Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson.}}

Greetings Neighbor,

Greetings Neighbor,

Hopefully you and your family are staying safe and warm during this snowstorm!

The NYC Emergency Management Department advises New Yorkers to prepare for potential winter weather from now into Sunday morning, 2/9. The National Weather Service has forecast 3 to 5 inches of snow with sleet and freezing rain possible. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from 7PM on 2/8 to 1PM on 2/9.

City agencies are preparing for the storm, as periods of snow, sleet, and freezing rain may cause difficult travel conditions and power outages. New Yorkers are advised to limit travel and stay inside during periods of severe weather. If you must travel, exercise caution. Roads and surfaces may be slippery. Use mass transit if possible. If you must go outdoors, wear dry, warm clothing and cover exposed skin. Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered. Check on family, friends, and neighbors who may need help in cold weather – especially older adults or people with disabilities.

A Note from DSNY

When a plowable depth of 2” or more is reached, residents will be able to track the progress of DSNY snow removal vehicles at nyc.gov/PlowNYC. Remember, a plowed or salted street will not show blacktop right away.

Response from Arverne East Development

Response from Arverne East when ECCA inquired about a statement made on their current newsletter…….

“Soil Transfer Operations: This operation is currently paused. The Arverne East site will import soil from a site located at Beach 41st Street.   The soil will be used to protect the development portion of the Arverne East site between Beach 32nd and Beach 41st against sea surge, bay surge, and groundwater flooding by elevating portions of the development area from three to eight feet above the existing elevation, exceeding the level of the last catastrophic storm and current New York City requirements.”  

Here is Arverne East’s response:

Hi Sonia,

There are currently no soil movement activities occurring on site. The material that was transported is currently secured and stabilized per NYC DEP regulations inside two fenced areas between Beach 41st Street and Beach 35th Street. The soil that has been stored is routinely inspected and should not affect residents.

Here is more background information on the soil protocols:

The development team received approval from the Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation (OEM) through the NYC Clean Soil Bank program to truck the soil to the receiving site, Arverne East, and stockpile it within the project boundaries - the fenced areas between Beach 41st and Beach 35th. The standard best management practices for dust control and an approved Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) have been and continue to be implemented. The development team has hired an environmental consultant to oversee all regulatory approvals and movement of the materials as needed and regularly inspects the fenced stockpile sites.

In the future, the soil will be used to protect the development portion of the Arverne East site between Beach 32nd and Beach 41st against sea surge, bay surge, and groundwater flooding by elevating portions of the development area from three to eight feet above the existing elevation, exceeding the level of the last catastrophic storm and current New York City requirements.

Update on Old Covid Site Owned by School Construction Authority

In case you were wondering about the activity going on at the old covid site, located on Rockaway Beach Blvd., between Beach 39th and Beach 40th Streets. Here’s the response we received from the Councilmembers office, where they received the below statement from Queensborough Donovan Richards office:

"The SCA is not actively performing construction at the new building site. There may have been testing performed this week. The location is in the infancy of the project as we are just beginning to look into the scope of the site.

We are projecting an opening date of Sept 2029 to be used as a primary school."

We will continue to keep the community updated as soon as more information is obtained.

ECCA attended the New Economy Project presentation on Thursday, February 6, 2025. It was a great presentation with useful information on banking and resources to assist homeowners, potential homeowners and renters. Below are a few flyers with services they provide. For those who are searching for Homeowners Insurance, call the Department of Financial Services (212) 480-6400 or call the Center for NYC Neighborhoods (212) 566-3050.

Greetings Neighbor,

As we monitor the flooding in our area, here’s some important information you need to know from US Harbors.

Greetings Neighbor,

I hope this email finds you and your family warm, well and safe! As a reminder of how to be kept most up to date with MTA during the Rockaway outage, please refer to:

• The MTA App and Train Time

• Signing up for email and text alerts for commuting by subway, bus or LIRR

• Rockaway Project Newsletter that gives that latest service updates

• A Quick Guide to Rockaway Service Alternatives Available to Customers for the Outage Duration

Greetings Neighbor,

The National Weather Service has issued the following:

Where: NYC

When: 1:00 PM on 1/19 until 4:00 AM on 1/20

Hazards: Between 3 and 5 inches of snow. These conditions may cause significant travel difficulties. Use mass transit if possible.

Preparedness Actions:

• Use caution when driving, walking, or biking, and allow for additional travel time

• Check on neighbors, friends, and relatives, especially the elderly & those with disabilities, access and functional needs

• If you lose power and have a disability or access needs, or use Life Sustaining Equipment (LSE) and need immediate assistance, please dial 9-1-1.

• For fire safety, ensure every room has a working smoke alarm, test them monthly, and change batteries twice a year. Use only indoor-approved portable heaters, keeping combustible materials like furniture and drapes at least three feet away. Never drape clothes over heaters or leave them running unattended, especially around children. Always plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet—never use extension cords or power strips—and avoid using heaters with damaged cords. Turn off heating devices when not in use to reduce fire risks.

• To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, ensure all fuel-burning appliances—such as furnaces, boilers, water heaters, and dryers—are properly vented and in good working condition. If unsure, consult a professional for inspection and repairs. Building owners must install approved carbon monoxide detectors, while occupants are responsible for maintaining them. If you have a fireplace, keep the chimney clean and free of debris. Never use gas stoves, ovens, charcoal grills, kerosene, propane, or oil-burning heaters to heat your home—kerosene and propane space heaters are illegal in NYC. Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms, including headache, nausea, dizziness, trouble breathing, and loss of consciousness, can be life-threatening, with severe cases leading to permanent injury or death.

• If you require assistance for daily activities, make arrangements in advance for support during the expected weather, ensuring caregivers are aware of and prepared for the weather conditions.

For weather info, be sure to visit www.weather.gov/okx/