The Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation (GWDC) will honor community leaders at its 35th anniversary dinner/dance next Friday night, June 6.
Rockaway Beach is getting a tourism boost this summer with a tuneful assist from the classic American punk rock band the Ramones, whose “Rockaway Beach” song is helping to promote the legendary recreation spot.
For the second summer, the song will be used as part of a radio ad campaign to bring visitors and tourists to Rockaway Beach, whose businesses have been rebuilding since the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Working with the Queens Economic Development Corporation and Volunteers of Legal Service, volunteers from the law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman, led by attorney Jennifer Carmen, secured the rights to the song first released in 1977 by the Ramones, who hail from Queens and grew up going to Rockaway Beach.
Citi Community Development was instrumental in sponsoring the ads, and in helping complete the restoration of businesses that were devastated by Hurricane Sandy along Beach 116th Street in the Rockaways.
“Citi is proud to support the ongoing recovery of Rockaway Beach,” said Eileen Auld, NY Tri- State director of Citi Community Development. “These new radio ads are a great reminder that summers at Rockaway Beach are back and better than ever.”
“Rockaway Beach is fantastic and open for business,” said QEDC Executive Director Seth Bornstein. “The Ramones’ song is still rocking the shore.”
Tom Murphy, owner of Curran’s Superior Meats on 239 Beach 116th Street, owns one of the businesses decimated during the storm. He received a grant from the Beach 116th St. Storefront Improvement Program, and is thrilled the Ramones are again helping strengthen his business this season.
