Brock Weiner, College Point Civic & Taxpayers Association
Brock Weiner has been living in College Point since 1980. With roots as a first responder and a community advocate, he currently serves as the treasurer of the College Point Civic & Taxpayers Association, a group working to improve the neighborhood’s quality of life.
The group handed out over 1,000 bags of candy on Sunday during its inaugural College Point Halloween Parade and Festival.
“It took 17 hours to stuff 1,000 bags of candy, but it was all worth it,” said Weiner. “We have a small-town atmosphere where many people know each other. We have beautiful parks, some of the best in the city.”
Starting from 14th Avenue and College Point Boulevard, the parade took trick-or-treaters to McNeil Park for a clown show, as well as a rock climbing wall provided by NYPD.
With just six weeks to prepare, organizers assembled a live DJ, pony rides, bouncy houses, a show by Cido the Clown and enough candy for a crowd dressed in costumes.
With help from Rafael Rivera, president of College Point Little League, and community advocate Kevin O’Donnell, the College Point Civic & Taxpayers Association put on an event that locals hope continues for years to come.
“It was unbelievable,” said Weiner. “For the first time, it couldn’t have been any better. The community really came out. That crowd makes doing community work worth it.”