Editor’s note: This letter was provided by Pelham Mayor Chance Mullen.

I hope you and your families continue to be safe and healthy.  As of this afternoon, the New York State Department of Health has reported 44,635 positive cases of COVID-19 in New York and 7,187 positive cases in Westchester. In Pelham, 21 of our neighbors have tested positive. Unfortunately, we are now fairly certain that the numbers we’re receiving for Pelham are at least 6 or 7 days behind, so please keep in mind that the actual number of local residents who have been infected could be exponentially higher than what’s being reported, given the rate of growth at the county and state levels.  State officials are reporting that it may take another 3-6 weeks before we start to see the number of new cases “peak” and many more weeks after that before things start to return to normal. Fortunately, Westchester County has now administered almost 30,000 tests, which is a higher rate of testing than anywhere else in the country. This aggressive approach is likely contributing to the higher numbers reported in our region, and as County Executive George Latimer shared at our Village Board meeting on Tuesday, “We are not the worst, we were just the first.”

Personally, I’m feeling a mix of conflicting emotions as I reflect on these past 11 days. We are all experiencing the daily anxiety caused by this pandemic, but any time I’ve felt myself drifting closer to despair, someone in the community or on facebook picks me up again with a timely reminder that we are profoundly resilient and astonishingly big-hearted. I want to bring your attention to two efforts underway right now that speak to Pelham’s ability to rise to this moment.

First: the Junior League of Pelham, Pelham Civics and the Pelham Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to launch Pelham Cares, a collaborative program that gives local residents the opportunity to donate to local businesses and fund delivery of meals to those working on the frontlines of the pandemic, like first responders, nurses and doctors. So far they have raised over $20,000 and every dollar is being used to support those who need it most. You can donate to the effort by visiting https://pelhamlist.com/pelham-cares. Please join me in thanking all those in our community who have responded to this crisis by putting their neighbors first.

Second: the Picture House, our 100-year old movie theater and regional arts education center that had previously relied exclusively on in-person film offerings and in-school education programs has now completely overhauled its organization in less than two weeks. They are offering movies you can rent and watch at home (www.thepicturehouse.org/tph-at-home) and free arts education to all who are looking for an “arts break” (www.thepicturehouse.org/at-home). Their educational short films are welcome inspiration for both kids and adults, and my family will be watching “Once Were Brothers” this weekend to support their efforts. The film is about Robbie Robertson and The Band and includes interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Martin Scorsese, Eric Clapton and many others. The Picture House is driven by a mission to support the world around them through art, and I hope you’ll support them as they continue finding creative ways to do so.

As of today, we’ve got two weeks under our belts and that’s an important milestone. Our kids have now been out of school longer than the likely incubation period so the risk to them is much lower now than it was before—as long as we continue to practice social distancing, of course. Many of our seniors and those with underlying health conditions have been in voluntary quarantine even longer than our kids. And since most Pelham residents have complied responsibly with the Governor’s executive orders, we can take some confidence in the fact that we are doing what we need to do. The goal now is to hold steady and stay vigilant.

Thank you for your support and cooperation so far.

Have a wonderful weekend, Pelham.

Chance