By Forum Staff
Last week, Our Neighbors Civic Association of Ozone Park (ONCA) held its first general meeting under a newly elected board at the Ozone Park Jewish Center, marking a historic transition and renewed commitment to civic engagement.
The meeting followed the retirement of longtime ONCA President Joe Caruana, who addressed members with a farewell message this past June.
Caruana offered a mixture of reflection and encouragement for the future, stating, “I congratulate my successor, ONCA’s new president, Jeremy Bucaria, and I wish him good luck as he begins his first two-year term. My only advice is ignore the haters—their only purpose in life is to hate.”
Photo Courtesy of ONCA
CPR for Life provided a cardiopulmonary resuscitation training presentation during the metting.
President Jeremy Bucaria opened the meeting by saying, “Ozone Park deserves a bright future where quality of life is respected, voices are heard, families feel supported and safe, and leadership is rooted in transparency, education, and collaboration.”
The evening included the official swearing-in ceremony conducted by State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven), a lifelong Ozone Park resident, who praised the new board’s energy and unity. “This community is strong. It is diverse. And diversity is our strength,” said Addabbo. “When we collaborate and work together, we can face any challenge. I wish you all the best as you begin this new chapter.”
Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) also joined in the celebration, presenting each incoming board member with official Assembly citations recognizing their civic commitment. In her remarks, she recalled the words of Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.” Rajkumar added, “These citations are more than just documents. They’re the birth certificates of a new era for ONCA.”
Both the 102nd and 106th precincts participated in the meeting, using the opportunity to introduce their new Quality of Life Teams. Officers encouraged residents to continue filing 311 complaints and assured those in attendance that these teams are going to be focused on tackling local quality of life issues that are often overlooked.
CPR for Life, based in South Ozone Park, provided a CPR training presentation and answered questions from the audience. The demonstration gave residents practical skills and encouraged them to seek certification so more community members are prepared to respond in emergencies.
