Pelham Examiner

Pelham Examiner

Pelham Examiner

Kiran Schwaderer, Executive Editor

Kiran Schwaderer is a junior at Pelham Memorial High School. She has been part of the Pelham Examiner since fifth grade. She enjoys playing the flute in the PMHS band and jazz band, playing the harp, and participating in Varsity softball. She is very excited to continue to contribute to the Pelham Examiner.

All content by Kiran Schwaderer
'It's only a dream, but I think we can do it:' Municipal Center ribbon cutting on 50th anniversary of merger creating Village of Pelham

‘It’s only a dream, but I think we can do it:’ Municipal Center ribbon cutting on 50th anniversary of merger creating Village of Pelham

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
June 2, 2025

Elected officials from local, county, state and national levels spoke on Sunday to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the completed Village of Pelham Municipal Center at 200 Fifth Avenue and the 50th Anniversary...

Junior League plans for modernizing and expanding Woodland Park include butterfly garden, treehouse, new playground equipment

Junior League plans for modernizing and expanding Woodland Park include butterfly garden, treehouse, new playground equipment

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
April 9, 2025

The Junior League of Pelham presented plans to revitalize Woodland Park at the March 25 meeting of the Village of Pelham Board of Trustees, outlining updates, repairs and expansions needed due to heavy...

Mullen presents ideas to improve parking to village board following resident complaints at previous meetings

Mullen presents ideas to improve parking to village board following resident complaints at previous meetings

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
March 11, 2025

Mayor Chance Mullen presented a list of ideas for parking improvements to the Pelham village board on Feb. 25 in response to concerns brought to the trustees on Jan. 28 and Feb. 11 by residents of 305...

Village of Pelham board meeting: Mayor Mullen responds to Sixth Avenue residents with parking concerns

Village of Pelham board meeting: Mayor Mullen responds to Sixth Avenue residents with parking concerns

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
February 21, 2025

Mayor Chance Mullen responded at the Feb. 11 village board meeting to concerns about long-term parking raised by residents at the trustees' previous meeting. A group that lives in the apartment building...

Residents of Sixth Avenue apartment building bring complaints about lack of parking to Pelham village board

Residents of Sixth Avenue apartment building bring complaints about lack of parking to Pelham village board

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
February 7, 2025

Almost a dozen residents of the apartment building at 305 Sixth Ave. attended the Village of Pelham Board of Trustees meeting on Jan. 28 to ask for interim and long-term parking solutions after they lost...

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[Photo] Foto Feature: Filming of TV show blocks parking on Fifth Avenue and First Street

By Lark Martin, Executive Editor
February 6, 2025

Members of the Village of Pelham Board of Trustees sit at the new dais during their first meeting in the new municipal center.

Village of Pelham Board of Trustees holds first meeting at new municipal center

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
January 21, 2025

Mayor Chance Mullen gaveled open on Tuesday the first village trustees meeting in the new Village of Pelham Municipal Center, with Trustees Michael Carpenter, Theresa Mohan, Russell Solomon and Krystal...

Missing Pelham resident Archer Hands found after seven hours by 'good people' on bus in Bronx

Missing Pelham resident Archer Hands found after seven hours by ‘good people’ on bus in Bronx

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
January 16, 2025

Archer Hands, a missing 18-year-old Pelham resident who is autistic, was found on a bus in the Bronx Thursday and is now with police and on the way home to his family. According to a Facebook post by...

Foto Feature: First look inside Village of Pelham's new Municipal Center

Foto Feature: First look inside Village of Pelham’s new Municipal Center

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
December 19, 2024

The Village of Pelham Municipal Center built to house the mayor and trustees, administrative employees, the fire department and the police department in one building is beginning to be used by board members...

Boxes of Village of Board of Trustee records.

Boxes of Village of Board of Trustee records.

New Trustee Krystal Howell (right) is sworn in by Mayor Chance Mullen.

Krystal Howell sworn in for first term on Village of Pelham Board of Trustees

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
December 13, 2024

Krystal Howell was sworn in as a new member of the Village of Pelham Board of Trustees on Tuesday evening after running unopposed in November for the seat vacated by Kim McGreal. Incumbent Trustees...

Pelham village board approves relocation of T-Mobile and AT&T cell towers to Pelham Green apartment building

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
November 27, 2024

The Village of Pelham Board of Trustees voted unanimously Nov. 18 on resolutions that will allow T-Mobile and AT&T to move their cell towers from the roof of the Pelham Fire House, which will be demolished...

Owners of Sergio's ask Pelham village board for site plan change at 139 Fifth Ave. needed for new Mediterranean restaurant

Owners of Sergio’s ask Pelham village board for site plan change at 139 Fifth Ave. needed for new Mediterranean restaurant

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
November 18, 2024

Sergio Ristorante owners Alban and Ylka Gashi came before the Village of Pelham board Tuesday seeking a required approval for a fast-casual Mediterranean eatery they've proposed for 139 Fifth Ave. The...

(Source: Westchester Board of Elections website)

Pelham Manor residents approve proposition to move village elections from March to November

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
November 8, 2024

(This story was updated to include the latest unofficial tallies from the Westchester Board of Elections.) Village of Pelham Manor residents approved moving their village's elections from March to November,...

Lawn signs encourage votes for both sides of the issue in the Pelham Manor referendum.

Election preview: Manor referendum is only LOCAL ballot item where voters have a choice; three Dems run unopposed for Village of Pelham board

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
October 31, 2024

The only local question where any Town of Pelham voters have a choice this election is one about elections. In the Village of Pelham Manor, residents are voting on whether their village's elections should...

Pelham village board promotes Adriana Rugova to village clerk, filling post open since July

Pelham village board promotes Adriana Rugova to village clerk, filling post open since July

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
October 11, 2024

Adriana Rugova was promoted Tuesday to village clerk by a 6-0 vote at the Village of Pelham Board of Trustees. Rugova has been serving as acting clerk since Sarah LoPuzzo resigned in July. "She's been...

Village of Pelham Board of Trustees votes 4-0 to approve additional funds for pedestrian safety project

Village of Pelham Board of Trustees votes 4-0 to approve additional funds for pedestrian safety project

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
October 7, 2024

The Village of Pelham Board of Trustees voted 4-0 on Sept. 24 to allocate an additional $51,588 for the pedestrian signal modifications and intersection improvements at Wolfs Lane and Sparks Avenue, boosting...

Pelham village board pledges to boost development of multifamily and affordable housing; access to grants cited

Pelham village board pledges to boost development of multifamily and affordable housing; access to grants cited

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
September 26, 2024

Pointing to a residential crisis in the region, the Village of Pelham Board of Trustees on Sept. 10 committed itself to promoting the construction of multifamily and affordable housing by streamlining...

Pelham village board votes 7-0 to condemn parts of Julianne's Playground for storm sewer project

Pelham village board votes 7-0 to condemn parts of Julianne’s Playground for storm sewer project

By Ava Paolucci and Kiran Schwaderer
September 18, 2024

The Village of Pelham Board of Trustees voted 7-0 Tuesday to use its eminent domain powers to condemn parts of Julianne's Playground for a storm sewer project. Specifically, the village board approved...

Car crashes into two parked vehicles on Second Avenue; driver caught after fleeing scene

Car crashes into two parked vehicles on Second Avenue; driver caught after fleeing scene

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
August 20, 2024

A white sedan driving south on Second Avenue crashed into a black SUV parked on the left side of the street at about 6:45 p.m. Monday, then swerved into a white Honda parked on the right side. The...

He heard stories of WWII growing up in Pelham and wanted to serve. A highly decorated career in the U.S. Army followed.

He heard stories of WWII growing up in Pelham and wanted to serve. A highly decorated career in the U.S. Army followed.

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
August 1, 2024

Roland Tiso Jr. grew up on Fifth Avenue in the late 1950s listening to every word as his uncles talked about serving during WWII. Those stories convinced the eight year old he wanted to become a soldier. He...

(Pelham Examiner file photo)

Heatwave: Three Pelham elementary schools without AC to dismiss early Thursday and Friday

By Kiran Schwaderer, Managing Editor
June 19, 2024

With excessive heat forecast for the rest of this week, students at Colonial, Prospect Hill and Siwanoy elementary schools will be released at noon on Thursday and Friday because all three buildings are...

The closed gas station at 163 Wolfs Lane after the owners had underground tanks removed.

[Photo] Developer of apartment building proposed for 163 Wolfs Lane allows village approval to lapse

By Kira Findikyan, Assistant Managing Editor
June 13, 2024

The closed gas station at 163 Wolfs Lane after the owners had underground tanks removed.

Parents express concern about poison ivy outbreak at Hutchinson Elementary School

Parents express concern about poison ivy outbreak at Hutchinson Elementary School

By Kiran Schwaderer and Oliver Lavallee
May 28, 2024

Parents are expressing concern after their children encountered poison ivy at Hutchinson Elementary School and got the inflamed itchy rashes the plant causes. Parent Zehra Parvez said at least 30 students...

Eva Mrizaj takes over management of New York Hair Salon, keeps same staff

Eva Mrizaj takes over management of New York Hair Salon, keeps same staff

By Kiran Schwaderer, Assistant Managing Editor
March 5, 2024

On Jan. 22, Eva Mrizaj took over management of the six-year-old New York Hair Salon from Victoria Roldan, who is planning to retire in about five years. Roldan "still works here," said Mrizaj. "Everything's...

Pelham streets and high school common area flooded by nor'easter; at least two trees downed by big coastal storm

Pelham streets and high school common area flooded by nor’easter; at least two trees downed by big coastal storm

By Kiran Schwaderer, Assistant Managing Editor
December 18, 2023

Several streets in Pelham were closed off with caution tape and the upper common area of Pelham Memorial High School was out of use Monday due to flooding from the nor'easter that dropped almost two...

By Friday afternoon, a sheet of particle board replaced the broken window at the Verizon store.

[Photo] Downtown burglary: Front window of Verizon shop shattered and iPhones stolen early Friday

By Hannah Steinberg, Managing Editor
December 8, 2023

By Friday afternoon, a sheet of particle board replaced the broken window at the Verizon store.

Flooding at train trestle on Highbrook Avenue. (Pelham Examiner file photo)

Village of Pelham flooding: Possible $39 million price tag to upgrade rainwater sewers

By Kiran Schwaderer and Gillian Ho
November 21, 2023

The Village of Pelham will have to spend as much as $39 million to improve the rainwater drainage systems in the areas of north Pelham and Highbrook Avenue in order to reduce the flooding that occurs during...

From left, Councilwoman Maura Curtin, Councilwoman Kristen Burke and Town Justice Adam Kagan all won reelection as Democrats.

Democrats Curtin, Burke and Kagan win reelection in Pelham’s three competitive races, according to elections board unofficial tallies

By Gabby Ahitow and Kiran Schwaderer
November 8, 2023

Town of Pelham voters reelected the three Democratic incumbents who faced competitive elections Tuesday, giving Kristen Burke and Maura Curtin new four-year terms on the Pelham Town Council and Adam Kagan...

From left, Pelham Councilwoman Maura Curtin, Councilwoman Kristen Burke and GOP challenger Clive Anderson are running for town board.

Don’t forget to vote: Polls open in Pelham in election featuring town, county and village posts

By Kiran Schwaderer and Gabby Ahitow
November 7, 2023

On this Election Day, incumbent Democrats Kristen Burke and Maura Curtin are vying with Republican nominee Clive Anderson for two seats with four-year terms on the Pelham Town Council. For a four-year...

Chamber protest and press conference about delay in Four Corners restoration postponed as owner takes first step on final work

Chamber protest and press conference about delay in Four Corners restoration postponed as owner takes first step on final work

By Kiran Schwaderer, Assistant Managing Editor
September 20, 2023

A "sizable" community protest and Pelham Chamber of Commerce press conference set for Saturday over the delays in work at Four Corners has been postponed because property owner Friedland Management...

From left, Pelham Councilwoman Maura Curtin, Councilwoman Kristen Burke and GOP challenger Clive Anderson are running for town board.

Democratic incumbents Burke, Curtin face GOP’s Anderson in race for two town board seats; DeChiaro seeks to win back town judgeship from Kagan

By Gabby Ahitow and Kiran Schwaderer
September 15, 2023

Incumbent Democrats Kristen Burke and Maura Curtin will vie with Republican nominee Clive Anderson for two seats with four-year terms on the Pelham Town Council in the general election on Nov. 7, while...

Shops at Four Corners see big sales declines after sinkhole repair work keeps much of parking lot out of use for two months

Shops at Four Corners see big sales declines after sinkhole repair work keeps much of parking lot out of use for two months

By Kiran Schwaderer, Assistant Managing Editor
August 24, 2023

The shops at Four Corners have continued to suffer steep declines in business because a large portion of the parking lot remains closed off after a broken water pipe created a sinkhole two months ago,...

Sneak peek: Downtown Pelham's newest apartment building to open in September

Sneak peek: Downtown Pelham’s newest apartment building to open in September

By Kiran Schwaderer, Assistant Managing Editor
July 11, 2023

The apartment building at 139 Fifth Ave. is scheduled to be open for rent this September, a year after projected at the beginning of construction, according to Holly Mellstrom, a real estate agent for...

Village of Pelham, chamber of commerce receive grant for downtown improvement

Village of Pelham, chamber of commerce receive grant for downtown improvement

By Kiran Schwaderer, Assistant Managing Editor
June 22, 2023

The Village of Pelham and the town chamber of commerce received a Business First Downtown Improvement Grant (DIG) from Westchester County that will fund market analysis, a strategic economic growth plan,...

Sneaker Game's owner moved from restaurants to retail: 'I can rely on myself'

Sneaker Game’s owner moved from restaurants to retail: ‘I can rely on myself’

By Kiran Schwaderer, Assistant Business Editor
April 24, 2023

Sneaker Game opened its doors at 227 Fifth Ave. on Feb. 4 with walls lined with popular shoes. "I always wanted to open a business, but I didn't know what to do because I used to always work in restaurants,"...

Four elementary schools hold simultaneous Read-A-Thons for first time, raising $98,750 for PTAs

Four elementary schools hold simultaneous Read-A-Thons for first time, raising $98,750 for PTAs

By Kiran Schwaderer, Assistant Business Editor
February 16, 2023

The four Pelham elementary schools aligned the timing of their annual fundraising Read-A-Thons to run from Jan. 17 to Feb. 3 this year, a first for the event. Overall, the four schools raised $98,750...

Teen mentors at Project CHILDD volunteer to help other kids—and end up learning their own lessons

Teen mentors at Project CHILDD volunteer to help other kids—and end up learning their own lessons

By Kiran Schwaderer, Assistant Business Editor
November 9, 2022

Teen mentors at Project CHILDD join the program to work with kids who have developmental disabilities and often end up learning their own lessons. Ryan Schiller, a junior at Pelham Memorial High School,...

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[Photo] Ice cream shop Sweet Lincoln replaces Sound Chicken in downtown Pelham

By Finley Bethea, Staff Reporter
September 22, 2022

Public pocket park created on Hutchinson School property at Third and Lincoln

Public pocket park created on Hutchinson School property at Third and Lincoln

By Kiran Schwaderer, Assistant Business Editor
September 15, 2022

A public pocket park is being built at the corner of Third and Lincoln avenues on school land in front of where stood the old Hutchinson Elementary School. Jim Hricay, assistant superintendent of business,...

Pelham Children's Center

Pelham Children’s Center strives to continue providing affordable childcare amid rising inflation

By Kiran Schwaderer, Assistant Business Editor
July 27, 2022

Inflation has caused many childcare centers to raise prices. However, Pelham Children's Center (PCC), a nonprofit organization, has continued to follow its mission of providing affordable childcare to...

Morning Glory Markets takes over management of Pelham Market

Morning Glory Markets takes over management of Pelham Market

By Kiran Schwaderer and Amina Pucci
June 14, 2022

The Pelham Market, which is set to run Sundays through Thanksgiving, is no longer operated by the Pelham Chamber of Commerce. Effective as of the first market on May 29, Morning Glory Markets is in...

Activist Trisha Prabhu educates community on cyberbullying, promotes app to help teens rethink messaging

Activist Trisha Prabhu educates community on cyberbullying, promotes app to help teens rethink messaging

By Kiran Schwaderer, Staff Reporter
May 2, 2022

Activist and Harvard University senior Trisha Prabhu spoke to seventh and eighth graders at Pelham Middle School about cyberbullying during an assembly on Thursday. Prabhu also spoke to community members...

The Picture House's main auditorium after a 2011 renovation.

Picture House, saved by locals from wrecking ball in 2003, celebrates centennial in Pelham—and Bronxville

By Kiran Schwaderer, Staff Reporter
March 29, 2022

The Picture House in Pelham, one of the town's cultural centerpieces, was almost demolished to put up a bank. The theater opened on Sept. 10, 1921 with silent films playing. It was owned by the Rogowsky...

A box to drop surgical masks for recycling at the Pelham Picture House.

PMHS student creates new business recycling masks into hair ties

By Kiran Schwaderer, Staff Reporter
January 28, 2022

Scarlett Bratone needed a hair tie one day and grabbed the string from a surgical mask. That gave her the idea to recycle masks to create hair ties and scrunchies. Thus was born her new business, New Ties. Bratone,...

Bridget Gates took job as district's first Covid-19 coordinator as she sought ways to help stop virus

Bridget Gates took job as district’s first Covid-19 coordinator as she sought ways to help stop virus

By Kiran Schwaderer, Staff Reporter
December 6, 2021

Bridget Gates worked as a county Covid-19 contact tracer before she was hired as the Pelham school district's first part-time Covid-19 coordinator. "When I was watching the Covid pandemic unfold, and...

The Pelham Memorial High School/Pelham Middle School campus.

New normal for Pelham secondary students is moving target

By Julia Findikyan and Kiran Schwaderer
October 8, 2021

Students' return to school last month has highlighted the challenges they and their teachers face as they move through the changing phases of the Covid-19 pandemic. “When we transitioned back to full-time...

Hole in ground: Apartment building under construction on Fifth Avenue to be finished by late 2022

Hole in ground: Apartment building under construction on Fifth Avenue to be finished by late 2022

By Kiran Schwaderer, Staff Reporter
September 1, 2021

An apartment building under construction at 139 Fifth Ave. since the demolition of a one-story multi-store retail property at the site will be finished by the fourth quarter of the 2022, with occupancy...

Two PMS students teach kids in Tanzania how to use internet to research, present

By Kiran Schwaderer, Staff Reporter
August 3, 2021

Madeleine Pachella and Jada-Lynn Baez, both eighth graders at Pelham Middle School, used online sessions to teach students of the Ikirwa Primary School in Tanzania how to do research on Google, and how...

PMS counselors, clinicians deal with toll on student mental health during pandemic

PMS counselors, clinicians deal with toll on student mental health during pandemic

By Kiran Schwaderer, Staff Reporter
May 11, 2021

The nature of counseling has changed during the Covid-19 pandemic as counselors deal with individual isolation rather than in-person conflict, according to Scott Brown, a counselor at Pelham Middle School. "Covid...

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[Photo] Chamber of Commerce kicks off spring with community-fun Saturday (slideshow)

By Katja Fair, Assistant Editing Manager/Photos
March 24, 2021

Dance classes for disabled move online during pandemic, forming Human Illustration

By Kiran Schwaderer, Staff Reporter
January 28, 2021

Sarah Greene moved her dance classes for disabled people at Saratoga Bridges in Ballston Springs online because of the global pandemic, founding Human Illustration, a website to bring dance to individuals...

Foto Feature: Rainbows still serve as symbol of hope throughout Pelham

Foto Feature: Rainbows still serve as symbol of hope throughout Pelham

By Cristina Stefanizzi and Kiran Schwaderer
January 27, 2021

Rainbows have served as a symbol of community hope and togetherness through the Covid-19 pandemic. The paintings, pictures and other images started appearing in spring 2020 and were seen in communities...

Foto Feature: Pelham decorates for holidays at home

Foto Feature: Pelham decorates for holidays at home

By Kiran Schwaderer, Staff Reporter
December 24, 2020

Foto Feature: Autumn colors Pelham

Foto Feature: Autumn colors Pelham

By Kiran Schwaderer, Staff Reporter
November 9, 2020

Shaun Eli (facing crowd) told jokes during the stand-up portion of the Eighth Avenue happy hour.

Laugh outside: Stand-up comic adds jokes to Eighth Avenue happy hour

By Kiran Schwaderer, Staff Reporter
August 24, 2020

"I started eating an apple a day and now my girlfriend doctor won't see me anymore." Laughter came from the crowd of fourteen—plus one dog—standing around the Eighth Avenue driveway of Shaun Eli....

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Foto Feature: Summer birds of Pelham

By Kiran Schwaderer, Staff Reporter
August 21, 2020

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