Many city residents will recognize the new president of the board for a local group dedicated to redeveloping Pine Avenue in Niagara Falls.
Members of the board for the Pine Avenue Redevelopment Project recently named former city Department of Public Works director John Caso as the new board president.
Caso served as DPW director under former Falls mayor Paul Dyster, taking over following the departure of long-time director Dave Kinney in 2015. He retired from the position in 2019. He replaces outgoing PARP board president and Marketside restaurant co-owner Tony Poletti who will remain in the organization as a member of the board.
Caso said the group will continue to focus on its primary mission while encouraging local business owners to apply for grant funding for property improvements and continuing to grow the Thursday summer concert series at Castellani Columbus Square Park.
“We’re just looking forward to building this up and hopefully getting the city on board to work with us,” Caso said.
The board added four new members during a recent meeting, including Nico Santangelo from Tugbys Bazaar and Niagara Falls Adventure Tours, Rebecca Vincheski from the Niagara Falls Boys and Girls Club, Zyed Abaddi from Kash Pro and Mike Edwards who is a resident member. Returning board members include Poletti, Caso, Stan Fera, Dave Rulli, Pat Ciccarelli, Sam Archie, Ernie Lucantonio, Charlie Calabro, Habib Bipary.
PARP also announced that Rulli will serve as vice president, Stan Fera will serve as treasurer and Nico Santangelo will be the board secretary.
In addition to naming Caso as president, the PARP’s board named Dave Rulli as vice president, Fera as treasurer and Nico Santangelo as secretary.
For more information about the PARP, visit https://www.pinenf.org/ or contact the organization via email at info@pinenf.org.
