Gina Rose Mon-

talto, a victim of the

mass shooting at

the Marjory Stone-

man Douglas High

School in Parkland,

Florida, on Febru-

ary 14, 2018 is the

granddaughter of

The Pelhams - PLUS www.pelhamplus.com

WEEK in REVIEW - February 19 - 23

The latest addition to Wolf’s Lane Park is a stone

and timber pergola donated by Pelham Preservation

& Garden Society (PPGS). It is located at the top of

Sparks Avenue, south of the Memorial and Sculpture

Courtyards on Wolf’s Lane in Pelham.

The idea of a pergola in the park emerged during a

series of meetings in the summer of 2015; PPGS had

convened a subcommittee to assist with the review

of the proposed Wolf’s Lane Park renovation. PPGS

Board Member Aldo Di Vitto, who is an architect,

initiated the idea of a pergola. He prepared drawings

pro bono and managed the entire process. He worked

closely with mason Aurelio Secchiano of A. Secchiano

Contracting to match the stone and mortar with the

wall and stairway which are original to the park dating

back to over 100 years old. Given their proximity, get-

ting a good match was an important part of the project.

A stone bench along the rear was also added to serves

as both seating and a retaining wall.

Aldo also worked closely with Mark Perricone of

Quality Home Improvement, the carpenter and con-

tractor who custom fabricated the rafter tails and as-

sembled the roof of the pergola. Mark showed great

care for details and for the longevity of the structure.

He insisted on staining the rough sawn cedar rafters

and powder coating the galvanized brackets and bolts

Stone and Timber Pergola Donated by Pelham Preservation Is Added to Wolf ’s Lane Park

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Cheryl

Champ is expected to present the pre-

liminary 2018-19 budget at the Pelham

Board of Education meeting on Tuesday,

February 27 at 8:15 pm in the Middle

School Library. It is anticipated that the

Board will meet at 7:00 pm and go im-

mediately into Executive Session in the

Superintendent’s Conference Room be-

fore the public meeting.

The Board may also continue its dis-

cussion on the proposed bond, which will

include the presentation of a draft SE-

QRA report on proposed bond projects.

Continued on Page 2

Victim of Florida School Shooting’s

Grandmother Lives in Pelham;Gofundme for Scholarship

STIEFVATER REAL ESTATE, INC.

Independentand Family

Owned

Pelham’s

Home

OfficeGina

Mary Lou Montalto, who lives in Pel-

ham. Her father is a 1984 graduate of

Pelham Memorial High School.

Gina’s parents have started a Gina

Montalto Memorial Scholarship page

at https://www.gofundme.com/gina-

montalto

Preliminary 2018-19School Budget DueAt Feb. 27 Meeting

Page 2 Week in Review February 19 - 23

PP&GS Pergola in Wolf ’s Lane ParkContinued from Page 1at his own expense to give back to our

community. In addition, Ciro Cuono

from the firm of Cuono Engineering,

also worked pro bono on the project, re-

viewed the structure of the pergola.

Aldo, upon viewing the plans and

walking the grounds, was inspired by

the line of sight at that plateau area of

the park provided and its connection to

the original retaining wall and stairway

acting as a gateway to the downtown.

“It was an opportunity to make a lasting

structure to encourage gathering and re-

flection at a point of elevation above the

busy downtown. It was all designed with

an intentional nod to the historic stairs

while integrating the enjoyment of the

large trees which surround the new per-

gola.”

The committee members included

Aldo Di Vitto as well as Aimee Linn Ka-

plan, Nigel Scott-Williams, Arthur Scin-

ta, and Mike Carpenter who met over

the planning summer to discuss materi-

als, scale, greenspace preservation, and

access points for the park.

“It was incredibly helpful to col-

laborate with PPGS on this significant

park project. A combination of the com-

mittee’s expertise and the generosity of

the PPGS pergola donation helped in-

form and elevate the park design. Aldo

worked for months to bring the pergola

concept to a reality; his day-to-day man-

agement of the construction is evident in

the details of this magnificent structure

that will serve Pelham for generations,”

commented Susan Mutti, Deputy Mayor

of Pelham Village during the project.

Aldo and the PPGS committee mem-

bers worked to affect the design of the

park entryways as well as considering

design details, materials and scale of

the pergola and other park elements.

The original drawing called for circu-

lar entries at each of the corners of the

park. The PPGS committee suggested

and designed access that retained more

greenspace and allowed a better buffer

around the street lighting infrastruc-

ture. Mr. Di Vitto reiterated that none

of the inspired renovations to the Wolf’s

Lane Park could have happened without

the leadership and follow-through of Su-

san Mutti. The pergola is now completed

and residents and visitors may enjoy it

for years to come.

Please remember to mark the date of

Saturday, June 9 for the 2018 PPGS an-

nual garden party benefit. This fun gar-

den party is the primary means of fund-

raising, along with membership dues,

for the PPGS. Tickets are available at

the door or in advance and online. In-

vitations will be mailed the first week

of May, or go to the group’s website for

more information in early May. www.

pelhampreservationsociety.com.

Formed in 1999, this group of volun-

teer Pelhamites develops programs and

funds projects aimed at protecting and

enhancing the aesthetic and historic

character of the Pelham community.

Recent projects of the PPGS include the

restoration of the Four Corner’s Police

Booth, regrading and cleanup of greens-

pace at Veteran’s Park at Four Corner’s,

installation of more historic light poles

and benches at Four Corners, restora-

tion and repainting of the clock tower in

the Village of Pelham, the installation of

green space and shade trees at the Cor-

lies Parking Lot at Pelham Memorial

High School, restoration of the Pelham

Memorial High School lobby murals, the

Oculus windows at the Picture House,

Highbrook Gates, the Benedict Foun-

tain, “Pelham by Design” book collection

at the library, the sign and plantings at

the train station, the Historic Houses

Plaque program and the “Mimi Buckley”

PPGS Scholarship, as well as the down-

town flower baskets.

To learn more about Pelham Pres-

ervation and its activities, visit www.

pelhampreservationsociety.com. All

Pelhamites are invited to join as a mem-

ber for $25 annually. To join the PPGS

please send a check made out to Pelham

Preservation & Garden Society to: P.O.

Box 8129, Pelham, NY 10803. Please

email aimee.linn@gmail.com for more

information.

The Village of Pelham Board of Trust-

ees has a list of proposed street loca-

tions for street resurfacing to be paid

for through $500,000 in the Bond Antici-

pation Note that was issued in October

2017. Sections of the streets on the list:

Boulevard, First Avenue (along the

Hutch), Maple Avenue, Linden Av-

enue and Pelhamwood Avenue.

The list is still tentative as the Vil-

lage waits to hear back from Con Edison

to see if there are any plans on replacing

gas lines at the proposed locations.

Weather permitting, the contractor

has been asked to start the work any

time after March 15th. Ideally, the Vil-

lage hopes that paving of Boulevard and

Pelhamwood when schools are on break

in April.

In addition to paving, the Village will

also be replacing curbing as needed, ADA

sidewalk ramps and adjusting manholes.

***

The Village of Pelham Board has au-

thorized $126,500 in repairs to the re-

taining wall of Village Parking Lot

1 on First Street at the back of the

offices of Meridian Risk/Joan Soli-

mine. The work is beginning this week.

Yellow police tape has blocked pedes-

trian use of the sidewalk and retaining

wall area since damage to the wall was

reported. Cars with Village permits to

park in Village Lot 1 have been allowed

to park on Pelhamwood Avenue across

from the north side of the train station.

Authorization of the repairs was ap-

proved in a vote by the Board on Feb. 12.

****

Joe Senerchia, head of the Village

of Pelham Building Department, was

given the provisional assignment of

general foreman of the Department

of Public Works at the Village Board

meeting Feb. 12.

Previously the duties had been as-

signed to Village Administrator John

Gallagher, following the recent retire-

ment of Michael Shriman.

Village of Pelham Board of Trustees—

Page 3 Week in Review February 19 - 23

Charlotte Mouquin Named Executive Director of the Pelham Art Center

The Board of Directors of Pelham

Art Center announced that Charlotte

Mouquin will succeed Lynn Honeysett

as the new Executive Director of the

Pelham Art Center. Ms. Honeysett is

retiring March 2nd.

Charlotte Mouquin (Voznesenskaya)

is known as a curator and artist. She

was the Director of Rush Arts Galleries

of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation

for seven years. Rush Philanthropic

Arts Foundation (Rush Arts) is dedi-

Charlotte Mouquin

cated to providing under-served youth with contemporary art

education, and developing and supporting artists, curators and

new audiences. The main two program areas include Rush

Education art programs for our youth and Rush Arts Galleries

supporting and featuring emerging artists nationwide. Rush

Arts Galleries includes Rush Arts Gallery in Chelsea, NYC,

Corridor Gallery in Brooklyn, NY and Rush Arts Philly in Phil-

adelphia, PA.

Originally from Rockland County, NY, Ms. Mouquin has

been living and working in Brooklyn for the past nine years.

Her goal is enhancing community through art experiences that

highlight our humanity as global citizens. Her degrees include

a MA in Contemporary Art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, a

BFA from Parsons School of Design, a MAT from the School

of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston/Tufts University. She has

curated at Rush Arts Gallery, Corridor Gallery, Sensei Gallery,

Field Projects, CultureFix Gallery, Clover’s Fine Art Gallery,

The Living Gallery, and has hosted art salons in private homes.

Mouquin has presented art with art fairs in NY and Miami in-

cluding: Volta, Scope, Pulse, Prizm, Fountain, Flux, Figment,

and Select. She has been a guest judge, curator and educator

at Curate NYC, the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series, and Art

Slant NYC and The Love Yourself Project.

Ms. Mouquin will officially begin her new duties at the Art

Center on February 26th.

PCRA Indoor Rowing Regatta on Valentine’s Day

The Pelham Community Row-

ing Association winter season cul-

minated with the annual St. Val-

entine’s Day Massacre, an indoor

rowing regatta held at Pelham

Middle School. PCRA Masters Ju-

lie Hansen and Rob Constable won

two events: Hansen in the Women’s

Veteran A category and Constable

in the Men’s Veteran A category.

Constable also qualified for a free

trip to compete at the World Indoor

Rowing Championships based on

his performance.

After a highly successful fall sea-

son, PCRA athletes had retreated to

their indoor training facility at the

New Rochelle YMCA for ten weeks

of intense winter training. Techni-

cal improvements and fitness gains

have been achieved utilizing ergom-

eters and hands on instruction from

PCRA’s coaching staff.

At the St. Valentine’s Day event,

the Girls U14 Division saw a clean

sweep of the podium by PCRA’s ath-

letes. Maya Spunberg won the event

by three seconds ahead of Kathryn

Alexander and Molly Bidwell.

In the Girls U17 event, PCRA’s

Megan Samuelson won the ham-

mer with a personal best following

a hard battle in the first thousand

meters with City Island’s Genesis

Bussey. Samuelson moved through

to take the lead for good in the third

quarter and held on the rest of the

way. The PCRA Girls’ team perfor-

mance was underscored by the best

team average erg score performance

in five years.

The PCRA boys had a similarly

impressive performance, with their

best team average in at least six

years. Julian Callegari won the

Boys U17 event, with Alec Sirkin

taking third.

Photo Galleries This Week - www.pelhamplus.com

Snowy Night of Feb 18 photos by Jeremy Driesen

Chinese New Year celebration at Pelham Art Center

Children in Romania receive Get Well cards from Pelham children through Gift of Life program

supported by Rotary Club of the Pelhams

Also on www.pelhamplus this week:

Obituaries

Daily Have You Heard

Police Reports

Cold War Tax Exemption Made Permanent for Town and Village Taxes

Coming Events:Pelham Resident John Cavelli and filmmaker and author Clara Bingham to receive awards at The Picture House Marquee Night on Friday, March 2; auction goes online Feb. 23 at www.thepicturehouse.org

“The Broadway Boys on the Esplanade” Show at The Manor Club on Saturday, March 3. Tickets are $75 per person, $30 for students. RSVP by check payable to The Manor Club mailed to 1023 Esplanade, Pelham. For information or reservations, call The Manor Club at 914-738-1528 or email: themanorclubofpelham@gmail.com.

Junior League of Pelham Kitchen Tour on Sunday, March 4; advance tickets are on sale now at www.pelham.org

PMHS Sock-n-Buskin drama club presents the smash hit musical comedy “HELLO,

DOLLY!” March 23-March 25 at the PMHS Auditorium. Performances are Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24 at 7:30 pm. Sun-day, March 25 is a 2 pm matinee. All seating is reserved; adult tickets are $20 and student/senior citizen tickets are $15. For reserva-tions and information, please email snbtix@gmail.com.