Plans for the future first took shape last month, on Thursday, June 26, when the local community association’s members elected a new slate of officers to serve for a two-year term, commencing the September of this year.
The following is a list of the executive committee: Edith Blitzer, chairperson; Andrea Siegel, co-chair; Janet Nuendorff and Louis Lutnick, recording secretaries; Edith Turner, corresponding secretary; Elaine Feder, treasurer; and Oscar Ruiz, sergeant-at-arms; and members at large: Ruth Birenberg, Kay Cardonal, Robert Cohen, Marci Gross, Vicki Kaufman, Greg Kislof, Ann Levinson, Jacqueline Lutnick, Joan Oltzik, Miriam Schwartz and Yetta Schmulson.
The members also adopted a set of bylaws, which will govern the organization’s goals of improving the quality of life in the Pelham Parkway community.
“We’ve come a long way since we first started the organization four years ago,” said Blitzer. “I think we made a name for ourselves through the various graffiti removal events we’ve held throughout the years, but we felt it was time to move on and do even more for the community.”
The organization is now in the process of raising funds and is planning a fundraiser in the future. “We received an EIN number, which is certainly a plus, because we finally started a bank account,” Blitzer added. “We are looking to file for 501c3 status in the near future.”
The organization, which does receive funding from Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr., Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera and Councilman Jimmy Vacca, is hopeful that more money will enable the PPSNA to rent out a storefront.
“We want to expand our services to the community,” Blitzer said. “We would like to have someone in an office that people could come to with problems that we can address. It would also be nice to have a regular place where we can hold meetings. Right now, I’ve had people cramming into my home.”
And while PPSNA does have ambitious plans, they are still looking to keep the scourge of graffiti out of their neighborhood.
“We’re waiting for the weather to cool down before we get paint from the post office,” Blitzer explained. “Martin Gold did an amazing job keeping those mailboxes clean from graffiti. We’re looking to take on that role and do the same, and then expand from there. We are here for the community.”
At the moment, PPSNA does not hold regular meetings during the summer months. A September meeting is planned for the future, but in the meantime, anyone looking for more information about the organization, hoping to help the PPSNA in its mission or needs a problem addressed, can call either (718) 828-3955 or Blitzer’s own line at (718) 863-8552.
“We’re here to help,” Blitzer said.
