Hughan was killed in a tractor-trailer accident in December 2021. Paterniti has emphasized the importance of creating a memorial spot in honor of Hughan in order for the community to “heal” from the tragedy.

After proposing the idea of a memorial in Dow Park to the City Council last month, Paterniti told the council Monday that she has been working closely with Jeff Lehman, director of the Department of Public Works, and Dan Stone, director of the Parks and Recreation Department. Paterniti addressed both the Public Safety Committee and the full City Council during Monday’s work session.

She presented a packet to each of the City Council members with a letter from the family of Alexis Hughan, giving her “full permission” to move forward with the memorial project.

“This is the next step in the project,” Paterniti said. “There was a question I guess that came up from a community member that they were against this project and that they didn’t understand why I was trying to remove the stuff from the side of the street. It is giving me full permission to continue this project.”

Pictured is local resident Melissa Paterniti during Monday’s City Council work session meeting. P-J photo by Timothy Frudd

Paterniti told the City Council that the proposed memorial for Hughan will include a picnic table and a bench. According to Paterniti, the picnic table will cost about $1,400, and the bench will cost between $1,000 and $1,200.

“The total for the bench and picnic table that we’ve chosen will be about $2,500 just for the equipment, and then whatever it costs to pay for the cement,” she said.

During her address to the City Council on Monday, Paterniti presented council members with the current design of the memorial bench, which was designed by Jamestown Advanced Products.

“Jamestown Advanced Products did an amazing job,” she said. “They did a wonderful job on the bench.”

Paterniti added that Jamestown Advanced Products even waved the fee for a backsplash for the bench, saving $250 for the projects.

With more than $2,500 required for the completion of the memorial project, Paterniti told the City Council she will be hosting a fundraiser Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. at the YWCA Lake Lodge in Lakewood.

“I’m hoping that we can raise about $3,000, if not more,” she said. “We’re going to have baskets. Currently, I have between 30 and 40 baskets that have been donated or made by myself. We’ll have hot dogs and chips and Pepsi products for about $5. We’ll have some 50/50 drawings and some other stuff going on.”

Paterniti explained that people will not have to be present at the end of the event to win, but tables will be set up for people to “hang out” throughout the day and enjoy the event. She believes the event will be a success based on the feedback she has received from people throughout the community.

“I’ve had a lot of people reach out to me, people I don’t even know,” she said. “That’s really nice that it’s getting out there.”

If enough money to cover the full cost of the project is not raised at Saturday’s fundraising event, Paterniti indicated that she would consider asking local nonprofits or businesses to contribute to the memorial project. However, regardless of how the fundraising event goes, Paterniti said she is committed to doing whatever is necessary to fund the project and finish the job.

“I spoke with the Public Safety Committee,” she said. “After I raise the money on Saturday, I’ll come to the meeting on Monday and let you guys know how much money I have, and then Jennifer is going to talk to Dan about the next step because it has to be a donation to the city.”

In addition to the work Paterniti has been organizing for the memorial, Paterniti said the house on the corner near the memorial location was recently gifted to Arise Chautauqua. According to Paterniti, the house is going to be utilized to help teenage girls and children at risk of human trafficking. Paterniti said the property has been “gifted” a light post that will be installed near the location of the park and the memorial.

When the memorial project is completed, Paterniti said the city will be able to “clean up” the side of the road that has previously been used as a “memorial” site for Hughan.

“Once this project is done, then we will clean up the side of the road and we ask the community to please not put stuff there,” she said. “We really want people to come and use the park and use the table and sit at the picnic table and sit at the bench and really remember her that way, because she deserves that.”

Following Paterniti’s presentation, multiple City Council members thanked Paterniti for her “good work” on the memorial project.