The Eastern Professional Hockey League's Brooklyn Aces played their first home game versus the Jersey Rockhoppers this past Saturday night at Aviator Sports Complex. The stands were rocking with approximately 2,200 people in attendance. The game was extremely exciting with fast paced play and hard hits all over the ice. From the first drop of the puck to the ending whistle the players were hustling back and forth between offense and defense.

The Aces are led by Captain Dan Rohanna who plays center and the high octane James Brannigan, who leads the team with 4 goals thru 3 games. James happens to be a local guy as his family owns and operates the B&A Pork Store on 13th avenue and 79th street in Dyker Heights. Though the Aces lost the game 3-2 it was not for a lack of trying as they had 62 shots on goal, but the play of the Rockhoppers Goaltender Nick Neidert, who seemingly was standing on his head all game, proved to be the difference.

Brooklyn Goaltender Eddie Neville who was named EPHL Goalie of the week last week, stopped 30 of 33 shots faced. The first fisticuffs happened about five minutes into the game when Brooklyn's own Jerry Cardinale went toe to toe with the Rockhoppers Teague Willits-Kelley, the fight ended with thunderous applause as both players fell to the ice.

Alan Friedman, C.E.O. and President of the team, who was born and raised in Canarsie was ecstatic over the response his team received from their new fans in their very first home game. He went thru the crowd personally thanking everyone for coming and to ask their opinion on the team and the arena.

The next home game for the Aces is Friday, November 14th at 7:30PM versus the Hudson Valley Bears and then on Saturday the 15th they take on the Danbury Mad Hatters at 7:30 PM. For more on the Brooklyn Aces first home game check out "Whispering Breezes" further in this paper.

Last Friday Night, the curtain went up on the Rockaway Theatre Company's new smash hit The Prisoner of Second Avenue. The play, written by Neil Simon, is set in the Upper East Side apartment of Mel and Edna Edison in 1971.

The main characters, Mel and Edna Edison, are brilliantly played by David Risley and Lynda Browning. They really come across as if they have been married to each other for some time.

The story line revolves around Mel Edison, who has just lost his job after many years and now has to cope in middle age with being unemployed. He and his wife Edna deal with noisy neighbors, loud sounds emanating from Manhattan streets up to their apartment and even a robbery of their apartment during broad daylight. Mel eventually suffers a nervous breakdown from the whole affair at which point his family comes to the rescue?

This show is definitely worth the price of admission as the acting and set design are top notch and the married banter between the two main characters is hilarious. For more information on the Rockaway Theatre Company's Prisoner of Second Avenue see Whispering Breezes.

By Noreen Schramm

In the realm of what were they thinking and yet another slap to the community and our local community board, last week the New York City Department of Transportation began stripping Rockaway Beach Boulevard between Beach 108th and Beach 149th Street for bike lanes in each direction. The plan is part of the mayor's NYC 2030 Plan to provide more bike lanes in the city.

Just how unrealistic is this plan? Consider that between Beach 108th Street and Beach 125th Street on Rockaway Beach Boulevard, there is currently only one narrow lane in each direction for vehicular traffic including major bus routes and now the City is adding bicycles to the mix!

Consider too that the stretch from Beach 116th Street to Beach 108th Street has only two east/west roadways to start with - Beach Channel Drive and Rockaway Beach Boulevard - that combined have a total of 3 lanes in each direction, which ties traffic into knots now; imagine what it is going to be like with bikes to contend with too. Talk about lunacy - just where do they expect the buses and cars to go? It isn't like there is another east/west route that they can take to avoid the bikes! Or are they re-routing the buses to Beach Channel Drive?

There are many disturbing aspects to this plan not the least of which is the lack of community input. The DOT did not have the courtesy of coming to the Community Board to ask for their input nor have there been any public hearings held in Rockaway on the proposed bike route. Why?

Probably because they didn't want to hear that it was an idea that is sure to cause delays and deaths. Doesn't public safety count any more? Or doesn't the City of New York want to know that if someone dies as a result of this new street configuration that the liability should be on them.

And what about the businesses along the stretch from Beach 108th to Beach 116th Street? There is currently only metered parking on the north side of the roadway - where are their customers suppose to park their cars, especially since parking in the area is so scarce?

Bottom line is why are we slapped in the face again by the City because the mayor wants bike lanes in all the boroughs? If that is the case then why hasn't the City widened Rockaway Beach Boulevard to provide for a bike lane. Will this eliminate curbside parking? And just when is the City going to give the area residents a say in matter that will have a direct affect on them! Where is our local representation?