By Adam Kramer
The North Bellerose Civic Association officers for the 2002-2003 year were due to be sworn in by state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) at their first meeting since the summer break.
Padavan was scheduled to install Bruno DeFrancheschi as president Wednesday, Corey Bearak as vice president, George Loredan as vice president, Margaret Fanelli as treasurer and Frank Ujlaky as sergeant at-arms. The ceremony was also to include a special presentation to outgoing treasurer Anna Paradise at the meeting in the Irwin Altman Beacon School — MS 172 — at 81-12 257th St.
“From a civic point of view, we are concerned with maintaining the integrity of the neighborhood,” Bearak said in a phone interview. “Illegal conversions and use of homes continues to concern the community.”
By far, he said, residents’ biggest problem is conversions and getting the city Buildings Department to be vigilant in checking area homes and answering complaints. Bearak said many members of the North Bellerose community think the department does not answer or check out their complaints about illegal conversions.
The community covers the area from Hillside Avenue to Union Turnpike and between Little Neck Parkway to Cross Island Parkway. It also regularly sends representatives to Community Board 13 and 105th Precinct Council meetings.
“Another goal of the civic is to eradicate graffiti that has plagued the area,” Bearak said. “The civic’s president, Bruno DeFrancheschi, and his wife Lucy have led the fight.”
In some instances, he said, they have gone beyond the strip of Union Turnpike between 248th Street and 249th Street to other outlying communities, where they “have been rather successful.”
The civic has also played a leading role in voicing community apprehension about the construction of three schools on the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center’s Campus, Bearak said.
“We have tried to make sure that there has been no adverse impact on the community as the schools go up,” he said. “The civic is also fighting for ballfields and adequate athletic facilities.”
The civic often meets the first Wednesday of each month except in January, February, July and August at 7 p.m. at the Irwin Altman Middle School at MS 172 at 81-12 257th St.
Reach reporter Adam Kramer by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 157.
