Hi All,

Sad news for Thanksgiving Eve.

Captain Manson, 104th Precinct, called to tell us that a 54-year old male Hispanic was riding his bicycle on Maurice and Borden Avenues today at about 5:00 pm when he was hit by a van and died from his injuries.  The driver fled the scene.  He said the van may possibly be white.

If anyone has any information that might be helpful to the investigation, please call the 104th Precinct Squad at  718-386-3004.  Sometimes a small detail is a big help to the investigation.

Please reach out to anyone you know who lives or works in the area.  Let's try to give this man's family some closure.

Thanks,

Roe Daraio, President
Comet Civic Association
www.cometcivic.com

Hi All,
 
Our Comet meeting  will  be held this Monday, 12/2 at our usual location.  We will have a small Christmas party at 6:30
  pm prior to the meeting which will start at about 7:00 pm.
 
Our first meeting of 2014 will be held in February on Monday, 2/3 at 7:00 pm.
 
Please don't forget we are collecting $10 dues for 2014.  We need your support to continue our efforts!  

COMET, PO Box 780151, Maspeth, NY  11378.  

Thanks.
 
Enjoy your holidays!  We wish you
and your  family a happy, healthy and safe new year!!
 
Roe Daraio, President
Comet Civic Association
www.cometcivic.com

Hi All,

Several folks asked what happened outside of Maspeth HS yesterday afternoon and why numerous vehicles were double-parked around the HS last night.

According to Det. Bell, 104th Precinct, a group of students from the Grand Street Educational Campus came to Maspeth HS and assaulted some of the students.  An arrest was made relating to the incident, but the investigation is still on going.

If you Google the campus, the address comes up as 850 Grand Street (at Bushwick Avenue) in the east Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.  One of the transportation options to get to the campus would be the Q59 bus - which happens to pass by Maspeth HS.  If there is another Grand Street Campus, we couldn't find it.  One witness told a Block Captain that she spotted a group of youth running to the bus stop across Grand Avenue  near Stop & Shop and getting on a west bound bus.  This would make sense if they came from Brooklyn.  We'll let you know if we hear of any updates.

As for the traffic problems outside the HS last night, we were told there was an "Open House".  Hopefully if there are other events at the school in the future better traffic coordination will be considered.

Roe Daraio, President
Comet Civic Association
www.cometcivic.com

Hi All,
 
Captain Manson, 104th Precinct, wants everyone  to be aware of the following.  With regard to the scams, he said never act upon  something someone says on the phone. Verify it first! 
 
On 11/11, Jay/Hamilton, a 2012 Nissan was broken into between the hours of 3:30 pm and 6:30 am.  Navigation system
stolen. 

1. SCAM - 57-year old male, 54th/68th Street, received a call from someone saying they were from Kings County Sheriff's office and there was a warrant out for his arrest.  Caller stated warrant was issued on behalf of an IRS case resulting from
   him supposedly  not reporting all his income.  Gave resident a phone # to call and told him to  ask for Officer Schumaker.  If he paid $2,865 case would be dropped.  The  resident called the IRS and they said no such warrant issued.  The resident  received a total of three calls from these scammers.  The first call received last Thursday and  after third call he reported it to the 104th.
   
2. SCAM - there has only been one  or two "green dot" scams reported in the 104th, but Captain Manson said activity is picking up in other precincts.  Scammer calls victim and says they're from  Con Ed or other utility and tells them service will be cut off unless they  purchase a green dot card for a specific amount of money and call them back with  the number on card.  Don't fall for it!! 

Please pass this information along.
 
Roe Daraio, President
Comet Civic Association
www.cometcivic.com

Hi All,
 
Great news!  Assembly Member Markey just received confirmation that the FAA will also attend her November 6th meeting at Maspeth Town Hall with the Port Authority.  Please make every effort to attend!  Let's put a STOP to this plane noise!
 
Roe Daraio, President
Comet Civic Association
www.cometcivic.com

M.E.D.I.A.  A.D.V.I.S.O.R.Y:  FAA & Port Authority at Public Meeting to Discuss New Programs to Deal with LaGuardia Airplane Traffic and Noise

Assemblywoman Marge Markey brings agencies responsible for LaGuardia Airport planes, in the air and on the ground, to Maspeth Town Hall at 7:00 pm, Wednesday, November 6

Airplane traffic over neighborhoods in the flight path approaching LaGuardia Airport has been a long-standing concern. To better understand how public agencies are addressing noise and environmental concerns, Assemblywoman Margaret Markey is sponsoring a public meeting where officials from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the Port Authority of NY & NJ will make presentations about monitor and deal with complaints and .

The meeting will be Wednesday, November 6, at 7pm at Maspeth Town Hall, 53-37 72nd Street, in Maspeth.

“We know there are problems as a result of airplane traffic above our neighborhoods. This is a meeting to provide information about why, and about what the two agencies responsible for these aircraft in the air and on the ground are doing about it,” said Assemblywoman Markey. “I invite everybody who is concerned about flights that appear to be too loud, too low and too frequent to attend.”

Federal Aviation Administration officials will discuss their NextGen program which is applying satellite-based technology to streamline aircraft landing procedures at LaGuardia and other major U.S. airports. Port Authority officials will discuss their new Airport Noise and Operations Management System (ANOMS) for all its NYC region airports, including LaGuardia. The new system will permit the PA to use fixed and portable monitoring equipment to tract noise and identify aircraft that exceed the PA’s authorized noise level of 112 decibels. The PA says that eventually the public will be able to obtain virtually current airplane flight data and file a complaint that will identify the specific flight and airline of offenders.