Archived Civic News - 2009:

-- Joe Schirone is chomping at the bit. Raffle sales begin the weekend of Sept. 12-13 and run through the morning of Oct. 30, when Phil Colicchio and Joe Nunziata will buttonhole commuters at the train station. The prizes for the $5 raffle include:
-- $500 Basket of Wine
-- $500 Gulf Gas Card
-- 32-inch Flat-Screen Color TV
-- Remote Car Start Alarm
-- $500 cash prize
-- 4 Yankee Tickets to a Game in 2010
And of course, the big one. A limited number of $100 tickets will be available for a grand prize of a $20,000 savings bond. If you'd like to help out at the raffle tables or buy some raffle tickets, contact Joe Schirone at 738-5265.

-- The Civics will honor Cathy Draper and Michael Clain as its Persons of the Year at our 70th Annual Dinner Dance on Oct. 30 at the Fountainhead in New Rochelle. Bob Tracy, President of the Civics, says, ``It's amazing how much this one couple has done for so many charitable and civic organizations in Pelham and beyond.''

``We'll also be toasting the Pelham Civics on 70 years of service to the community,'' says Phil Carfora, the Dinner-Dance Chairman. ``Our annual gala has become a major event on the local social calendar -- a testimonial to the spirit of volunteerism in Pelham.''

The dinner-dance is a major fundraiser for the Civics. It features fine food, lively dance music and an exciting raffle. For tickets or more info on the dinner-dance, contact Phil Carfora at 738-3516.

-- Speaking of major fundraisers, Joe Benefico did it again. Another highly successful Benefit Golf Tourney at the Pelham Country Club on June 30. Nearly 100 golfers enjoyed a great day on the course, followed by cocktails and dinner in the clubhouse. Look for Joe's ``Thank You'' ad listing the generous sponsors and patrons in the Sept. 11 Pelham Weekly.

-- Pat Smith organized and ran an exciting Summer Olympics for some 200 enthusiastic Pelham kids on June 6. He's the first to admit he had a lot of help from his friends -- Civics volunteers and their family members. Westchester's TV-12 gave us major coverage, with a reporter-cameraman team checking out every event at Glover Field, and the Pelham Weekly ran a full-page photo feature. A highlight of the morning was the welcoming speech by Pelham's inspirational Hernan Kenny.

-- The Civics honored Pelham High School students with prestigious community awards at the Pelham Memorial High School graduation ceremonies June 27 and at an earlier awards assembly.

-- Peter Bernstein and Harry Oppenheimer received the Hon. Richard J. Daronco Civic Leadership Award. The award is presented to a Pelham High School junior class student who best personifies civic leadership and responsibility along with the ideals and principals of the late Judge. Daronco.

-- Harry Oppenheimer received the Philip J. Colicchio Award. The $1,000 award is presented each year to the incoming president of the Pelham Memorial High School Student Association.

-- Allison Focella received the Joseph L. Nunziata Award for Creativity and Service. The $1,000 award recognizes a student for outstanding spirit and imagination and artistic talent used in the service of the community.

-- Grace Murray received the the Vincent J. Lopardi Community Service Award. The $5,000 award is presented to a graduating high school senior residing in Pelham, who best exemplifies the same civic pride and community spirit.

-- Morgan McDaniel received the Camillo J. D'Urso Charitable Support Award. The $5,000 award is presented to a student who resides in Pelham, and who best exemplifies leadership and support in charitable work.

Dr. John Pacia, Community Awards Chairman, presented the awards. For more information about the awards, please visit our Community Awards page.

-- The U.S. Army Field Band, which performed at President Obama's inauguration, will appear in a free concert Friday evening, March 6, at the Pelham Memorial Middle School. Taking the stage with the 65-member Army band and the 25-member Soldiers' Chorus, will be members of the Pelham Memorial High School marching band. The event is sponsored by the Pelham Civics and The Pelham Weekly. A Pelham Manor native, SSgt. Phillip Kiamie Jr., son of Civics member Phil Kiamie Sr., is a percussionist with the Army band.

Free tickets for the concert are available at The Pelham Weekly office, 225 5th Ave., Pelham; the Daronco Town House, 20 5th Ave., Pelham (9 a.m. to noon on weekdays), and the Pelham Middle School office.

-- At our January meeting, Civics member Judge Stephen Huff swore in new Civics members Glenn Whitmore, John DeChiaro, Joseph Orlando, Steve Davies, Tom Imperato, Edward Doty, Chris Lauretani, John DeCicco Jr. and Gerard Ulto. Judge Huff also swore in Civics board members Joe Solimine, Michael Clain, Kenneth Shirreffs and Joe Hall. See the photos on our Photo Gallery page.

-- Check out new photos from the Christmas wrapping in our Photo Gallery.

-- The Civics held its annual gift-wrapping event for needy neighbors on December 6 at the Daronco Town House. Dozens of Civics members and their families affixed bows, ribbons and colorful Christmas wrap on presents that were then distributed to 120 children in the Pelham area. The Civics also provided Thanksgiving dinner baskets to more than 60 families this year and was set to deliver a similar number of Christmas food baskets. Rich Davidian is Chairman of the Good Neighbors Committee and Tim Curry is Vice-Chairman.

-- Thanks in large part to Brian Neufeld, the Civics Christmas Party/December Membership Meeting on December 5 at the Pelham Country Club was a holiday highlight, as usual.

-- The Civics joined with The Arthritis Foundation to present a free seminar for senior citizens at the Daronco Town House on November 19. A packed house heard new information about arthritis and up-to-the-minute treatments, as well as an introduction to the benefits of physical therapy and exercise to combat arthritis.

-- Jack McCormack's senior citizens committee wrapping up its ``Afternoon at the Movies'' series with a couple of blockbusters -- ``Casablanca'' on November 25 and ``White Christmas'' on December 23. The classic film series at the Pelham Picture House has drawn nice audiences and will resume in the spring.

-- Our 69th Annual Dinner Dance, chaired by Phil Carfora, exceeded expectations again. Ursla Huff was a gracious, graceful honoree and The Fountainhead provided a first-class venue.

-- The free Tai Chi program sponsored by the Civics wrapped up November 6 at the Daronco Town House. Jack McCormack advises that it will resume in the spring.

-- Frank Mondrone Sr,. retuning from a religious retreat in Aruba, was interviewed by WNBC-TV (8/5) for his thoughts about the American Airlines baggage mess. He was against it.

-- Nice photos of Bill Ioris in the Pelham Weekly (July 11) and the Pelham Post (August), being congratulated by Bob Tracy on his 91st birthday.

-- Joe Benefico says excitement is building for the Civics' annual Golf Outing to Benefit the Needy at the Pelham Country Club on July 8.  It's a major fund raiser for the organization and Joe has sent out a mailer to solicit golfers, sponsors and volunteers.

-- Pat Smith is circulating flyers to Pelham kids, who probably need no encouragement to show up for another fun day of events at the Civics' 24th annual Summer Olympics at Glover Field on June 7. Pat is also looking for volunteers to help run the games and shepherd the participants from station to station.

-- Ursla Huff has been selected as the Pelham Civic Association's 2008 Person of the Year for her extraordinary and ongoing volunteer efforts on behalf of the community. She will be honored at the association’s annual dinner dance Friday, November 7 at the Fountainhead in New Rochelle. Phil Carfora is dinner dance chairman.

-- Bill Ioris, WWII aviator,  was the grand marshal of Pelham's Memorial Day Parade. Joe Hall, Vietnam-era Signal Corps stalwart, was, as usual, the parade's master planner

-- The Pelham Civic Association and the PHMS Guidance Department co-sponsored another highly successful Sophomore Career Awareness Day on May 22 -- the 18th consecutive year that the program on ``life after high school'' has been presented. More than 200 students participated in breakout sessions in which they were introduced to a wide range of potential jobs and careers by more than 50 Pelham Civic members and other community volunteers. Congratulations and thanks to Josh Galiani, Career Day Chairman.

-- Nice crowd showed up Tuesday, May 20, for the second ``Afternoon at the Movies'' presented by impresario Jack McCormack at the Pelham Picture House. ``Top Hat,'' a 1935 classic, was shown on the big screen along with free popcorn and soda, courtesy of Jack's Senior Citizens Committee.

-- Tai chi resumes Thursday, June 5 at the Daronco Town House, sponsored by the Pelham Civic Association. The free classes begin at 1 o'clock and will continue for eight weeks.

-- Jack McCormack announces that the Civics is joining the Pelham Picture House in presenting a free ``Afternoon at the Movies'' on Tuesday, April 15 at 1:00 p.m.  It's the first in a series of vintage movies that will be served up with free popcorn and soda.  All credit to Eric Salmeron, a member of the Picture House board, for making the arrangements on behalf of the senior citizens committee. The first offering is a blockbuster musical that made quite a splash in 1952.

-- On Good Friday, March 21, three members of the Pelham Civics and a prospective member distributed pizza, salad and garlic bread to some 50 to 60 people gathered at the Mount Vernon Soup Kitchen at Sacred Heart Church.  Frank Mondrone Jr., Michael Mondrone, Eric Salmeron and Dominic Drago dished out 25 large pies.  Frank said Pizza Night would be repeated in the Fall as part of the Civics' ongoing commitment to the soup kitchen.

-- The Civics-sponsored tai chi classes at the Daronco Town House have drawn enthusiastic groups of senior citizens through the month of March and will continue through April.  A former president of the Civics (1949-1950), 95-year-old Carmine Cardillo, attended one of the Thursday classes.  Jack McCormack, Chairman of the senior citizens committee, is talking with instructor Norma Castle and the Arthritis Foundation about holding more tai chi classes in the future.

-- The Civics welcomed a new president, Robert J. Tracy, at its general membership meeting at the Daronco Town House on January 16. He succeeds Daniel W. McLaughlin, who served for the last four years. Tracy lauded McLaughlin's service and cited the organization's continued impressive growth under McLaughlin's stewardship. The new president also outlined the Civics' goals for the upcoming year, which include efforts to identify needs of the community, expand new programs to serve the community, and to actively seek friends and neighbors as new members. McLaughlin congratulated Tracy and thanked the membership for their strong support during his two two-year terms of office. He will assume the role of chairman of the organization's Board of Directors. Attorney Stephen F. Ruffino conducted the swearing-in of officers and board members. Tracy offered a special thanks to long-time board members Dr. Anthony Galiani, Patrick Grosso, Jack McCormack, Frank Mondrone, Sr.and Joseph Lifrieri, who were retiring from the board. ``These men were instrumental in building the organization and we look forward to their staying involved,'' Tracy said.

-- The Father's Forum presented a panel discussion on youth sports Saturday, Jan.12, at PMHS. The event was co-sponsored by the Pelham Civics and PACT. The Forum, ``Youth Athletics: How Much Is Too Much,'' offered coaches' and trainers' perspectives on a wide range of topics related to the physical and emotional effects of athletics on children, with emphasis on the role that fathers can play.

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