COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Charlie Gisondi has been a member of the Ozone Park Civic Association for eight years and is currently the vice president of the association. Gisondi tries to rectify any problems within the community, ranging from vandalism to construction projects. Gisondi also helps to set up parties for children in the community during holidays such as Easter and Christmas.
PERSONAL: Gisondi is unmarried with no children.
JOB: Retired police officer, served for 15 years.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE: “The biggest challenge is trying to get everyone to agree. We try to please all parties.” Gisondi said that the development of Magnolia Court Condominiums near Cross Bay Boulevard presented such a problem. “Some people were for it because it could clean up the community a little but some people were against it because of the traffic.”
FAVORITE MEMORY: “My favorite memory is when we recognized our hometown heroes of foreign wars. We had veterans of World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War and the Iraq War,” said Gisondi. “The whole day was nice.”
– Will Sammon
