The New York City Police Department has come up with a new twist in fighting crime in high-crime areas. The agency now uses what they call "Sky Towers" to watch over a several block area. The sky towers are portable and can be moved from one area to another rapidly. One of the towers has been located at the Redfern Houses in Far Rockaway since a shooting spree in May. Another tower was set up this week at Beach 90 Street and the boardwalk to overlook a problem area on the beach. More...

Thirty people lost a combined 259.6 pounds while participating in Shapewatchers 12-week weight loss challenge. Participants ranged from 11 to 83 years of age. The top three winners lost 66.4 pounds combined. The challenge advised of proper nutrition, food choices, and also encourages exercise and a healthy life style. More...

The Gateway National Park Service is happy to present the Greg Trooper Band with special guest, Rockaway's own Indaculture. The performances will take place at Jacob Riis Park on Sunday, August 24 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Attendees are asked not to bring glass bottles or alcohol to the event. Beer will be for sale on the premises. More...

Robert V. Levine (left), President and CEO recently accepted a $30,000 donation from Benefit Fund Trustee, George Greco (right), New York City District Council of Carpenters and Jointers of America Benefit Funds. Greco, a member of the Board of Directors of Peninsula Hospital Center, facilitated the donation to the Hospital Center to sponsor the no-cost AngioScreen program currently offered to the community by PHC. More...

Both Queens College and St. John's University have made the cut, being among "The Best 368 Colleges," in America, as announced by the Princeton Review in its annual college issue. More...

Sophia Maria Millet of Belle Harbor celebrated her third birthday on Saturday, August 2 with her parents; sister, Angela; grandparents; and her best friend, Oliver. More...

The Rockaway Beach Volleyball League concluded its 19th season on Saturday with an entire day of playoffs by crowning six different division champions at day's end. More...

On Monday, Governor David Paterson presented a plan to trim $1 billion from the state's budget this year. Paterson plans to cut pork and higher education funding, but the major cut is reserved for the Medicaid system, and that could mean real problems for thousands of Rockaway residents who use the program to provide vital health care. More...

Dear Editor, I would like to respond to your criticism of the ad hoc committee's efforts to get a suitable recreation facility built in the Rockaways. You suggested that all the committee achieved was some notoriety and some ink in the local paper. My reading of the dictionary tells me that notoriety means "to be known for being notorious. More...

Dora Carter, a longtime Rockaway resident, died August 3. She was 68. Carter was born in Cordele, Georgia on April 15, 1940. She was a longtime member of the Allen A.M.E. Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Grady and Minnie Morman Rainey; brother, Grady; and sister, Mozell. More...