To the editor:

I am happy to express my support for Maura Curtin for reelection to our town council. Pelham is lucky to have tremendous leadership on our town council, and Curtin has proven her commitment to public service as a collaborative part of this team. As a resident, whenever I’ve faced an issue and expressed a concern, Curtin has taken it upon herself to reach out directly and help. When necessary, she will contact partners in the local governments of our neighboring towns, the MTA, you name it, to seek a solution.

It was a rainy cold morning in March of 2022 when reports that a tree cutting/wood chipper operation was beginning along the Metro North Railroad tracks behind the Community Church of the Pelhams. Curtin immediately went to the scene to speak with the MTA crew. She called Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, who then contacted Metro North leadership to re-evaluate what was being cut down, especially in light of the flooding that occurs on Highbrook Avenue. Trees help mitigate flooding and hold soil from eroding, and therefore we need more mature trees to help with flooding in Pelham. The tree cutting operation was halted, trees were saved and the trucks left thanks to Curtin’s  swift action. As past chairwoman of the Pelham Preservation and Garden Society, I feel strongly that we must do everything we can to preserve our mature trees. One large canopy tree can absorb 1,000 gallons of rainwater over the course of an average year, and during storms, their canopies help to bounce and deflect some of the rainwater from falling straight downward and creating more rapid runoff effects.

Similarly, when the new Hutchinson Elementary School was being built and site planning was taking place, Curtin again worked alongside me to advocate for the trees around the property and  ensure we preserved as many as we could. She emphasized to our school administrators the importance of replanting appropriate native trees wherever possible once construction of the new school was completed. Curtin is hard working, hands-on, knowledgeable, accessible, and she cares deeply about our town. We have a wonderful community, and I believe that if reelected, Curtin will continue her exceptional work in service of Pelham. Please vote for Maura Curtin on Nov 7.

Aimee Linn Kaplan

205 Elderwood Ave.