By Bob Harris
Frank Magri, a Flushing resident who lives in the Pomonok Houses and is a member of Community Board 8, was recently honored at a CB 8 meeting for his heroic actions in defending a woman from an attacker in a subway car.
Magri, an electrician and member of Local 3, was going to work last May when he intervened to prevent a mugger from hurting a defenseless woman. He subdued the mugger and then held him until the police arrived. He was honored by Local 3, several legislators and CB 8 because he risked his own life to come to the aid of a women being attacked.
CB 8 presented him with a certificate of appreciation, as did state Assemblymen Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows), Michael Simanowitz (D-Flushing) and David Weprin (D-Little Neck), state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) and City Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows). Also honoring him were CB 8 Chairman Alvin Warshaviak and Second Vice Chairwoman Martha Taylor.
CB 8, like CBs 7, 11 and 13 in eastern Queens, holds monthly meetings which the public is invited to attend. There is a public participation period prior to the meetings, where the public can speak for a few minutes on issues which concern them. Each community board consists of 50 residents appointed by the local Council member and the borough president. The board members are volunteers; the office staff is paid.
For the past two years, CB 8 has held a Spring Health Fair adjacent to the 196th Place Cunningham Park parking lot. Health providers, city agencies and volunteer groups came and did health tests and provided information to the public. Several food establishments provided snacks and drinks. There was dancing, games and entertainment for children. The CB 8 staff and volunteers helped with the setup of chairs, tables and tents.
The event seems to be growing each year and, since it is only for about four hours, is not an imposition on the neighboring West Cunningham Park Civic Association homeowners.
One activity a community board engages in is watching the activities of establishments which sell alcohol and wine. Occasionally, patrons of bars are noisy and disruptive. A community board can act to oppose the renewal of liquor licenses by the state Liquor Authority.
Residents should know that a liquor license has to be renewed every few years and that the SLA has a folder on every establishment selling spirits. The monthly CB 8 newsletter lists every application up for renewal. It asks that any residents who have complaints about liquor-caused disturbances should send a signed letter to its office and it will attend to the matter.
It is recommended that a copy be kept by the complainants and also sent to the SLA, the local police precinct and their local civic or tenant association. There were complaints along Union Turnpike and Bell Boulevard several years ago, but the problems were taken care of and this columnist knows of no complaints at the current time.
Reports from the manager of CB 8 and other sources are as follows:
• Queens accounts for 50 percent of building complaints to the city Department of Buildings. If you have complaints, contact your local community board.
• Mosquitoes are still around, although it is getting colder during the night and there was a spraying. They also seem to sneak into our houses in Fresh Meadows when someone opens an outside door. It was a bad year.
• There was flooding along Main Street in Fresh Meadows after the last heavy rain. The city Department of Environmental Protection has been contacted again, but says it would take 50 years to solve the problem. What is the DEP going to do as the glaciers continue melting and water rises along our coast lines?
• DEP reminds drivers that it is illegal to honk their horns in the city for more than three minutes and one minute near a school. The fine is $350.
• The new city buses have a camera in front which takes a photo of any car parked in a bus stop and then sends a $165 ticket to the owner.
