Tommy Roche is a student at Boston College. During the 2020-2021 school year, he was the Managing Editor/News of the Examiner, primarily covering general and school-related news.
There was a time when I would never have wanted to make this speech. I was a nervous kid growing up; I was the boy who cried at recess. Every recess. My meltdowns felt connected to this horrible feeling...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News June 21, 2021
Emily Kalyvas and Lucia Lavallee are the valedictorian and salutatorian of the Pelham Memorial High School Class of 2021, but which student achieved which honor is not being disclosed, as is the PMHS tradition....
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News April 16, 2021
Editor's Note: This district policy has since changed to allow all PMHS students to enter the building on school days beginning May 17.
Superintendent of Pelham Schools Dr. Cheryl Champ announced that...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News April 12, 2021
The new reopening model for Pelham Memorial High School is deeply flawed.
I have no doubt that significant time and effort went into creating this plan. However, that is not an excuse for the overly...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News April 6, 2021
Materials at first suspected of being undetonated explosive material buried on the grounds of Prospect Hill School were found not to be dangerous, said Pelham Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ in an...
Pelham Manor mayoral and trustee candidates Tuesday debated police reform, the timing of village elections, the tax cap and environmental programs during the only event where they will face each other...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News February 13, 2021
Editor's note: This story has been corrected from the original version published Feb. 12 to reflect the fact concerns about body cameras were expressed by members of the stakeholder working group, not...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News February 11, 2021
Pelham Memorial High School students will attend classes virtually on Friday after four individuals in the building on Monday tested positive for Covid-19, according to an email from Principal Mark Berkowitz...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News January 20, 2021
Pelham Memorial High School students attending classes in-person Wednesday will not be able to watch the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, despite the fact that President Donald Trump’s swearing-in...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News December 16, 2020
The Pelham Union Free School District has reported that all in-person instruction will be closed on Thursday, advance preparation for storm heading toward the town, with the decision to either have fully...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News November 29, 2020
Pelham Memorial High School will continue fully remote instruction from Nov. 30 through Dec. 4 due to a staff shortage from newly discovered Covid-19 cases, according to an email sent to families by Principal...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News November 21, 2020
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced that the Section 1 season for low and moderate-risk winter sports has been delayed from Nov. 30 to Jan. 4.
NYSPHSAA previously delayed...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News November 12, 2020
Pelham Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ defined a no-tolerance policy barring staff from wearing apparel that includes any political speech and addressed community concerns related to the district's approach...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News November 6, 2020
Pelham Middle School will shift to fully remote instruction until Nov. 20 following a student testing positive for Covid-19, Principal Lynn Sabia announced Friday.
In an email sent to PMS parents, Sabia...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News October 29, 2020
Although the mixture of documentary and drama involved is stilted, the Netflix original "The Social Dilemma" is a must-watch title for recognizing the dangerous impact social media has on the world at...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News October 23, 2020
An employee of Forever 21 in the Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers used his cell phone to record illicit video of 23 women in the store's changing rooms, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News October 13, 2020
Mount Vernon resident Negus Kirton has been charged with second degree murder in the alleged shooting death of former Pelham high school student Michael Toro in May, according to a statement from the Westchester...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News September 30, 2020
Lianne La Havas' self titled project, released to only moderate fanfare on July 17, is the product of five years of ruminations, recovery, and pitch-perfect recording from backup singer-turned soul artist...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News September 9, 2020
In an email sent to students, parents and staff, Pelham Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ said all in-person instruction in the Pelham Union Free School District will be delayed to Monday due to a large...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News August 13, 2020
In an email sent out to all parents of PMHS students, first-year principal Mark Berkowitz and assistant principal Bethany Antonelli assigned students into two groups in preparation for a potential "hybrid"...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News August 10, 2020
Pelham Memorial High School graduate Mina Simone was hit by a car while riding a Citi Bike on July 9.
Unable to continue her job as a yoga instructor due to her injuries, and without federal Covid-19...
By Tommy Roche, Managing Editor/News July 17, 2020
Pelham Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ said Friday the school district is considering three options for opening, including full in-person instruction, an expanded distance learning approach and a hybrid...
By Tommy Roche, Assistant Managing Editor June 22, 2020
Since George Floyd’s tragic death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, many Pelham residents have tried hard to express the town’s opposition to systemic racism and police misconduct. An inspiring,...
By Tommy Roche, Assistant Managing Editor June 12, 2020
As PMHS seniors prepare to attend their unprecedented drive-in graduation at SUNY Purchase on June 27, some students reflect on the conclusion and some previous friction between the student body and school...
By Tommy Roche, Assistant Managing Editor June 2, 2020
Over 100 Pelham residents observed a candlelight vigil held for late Minneapolis resident George Floyd at Wolfs Lane Park this Monday. With more events planned ahead, and all proceeds going to civil...
By Tommy Roche, Assistant Managing Editor May 27, 2020
Like other overly concerned students, one of my immediate anxieties at the start of Covid-19 pandemic was about how national academic processes like the AP Exams could happen with social distancing guidelines....
By Tommy Roche, Assistant Managing Editor March 20, 2020
With distance learning now fully underway, crucial aspects of the typical school curriculum, like tests and quizzes, have become unusable in their current state. As a result, the district is seemingly...
By Tommy Roche, Assistant Managing Editor January 17, 2020
Following Tuesday's 3-2 loss against John Jay High School, the Pelham Memorial High School Varsity Hockey team hopes to achieve victory against an old rival: Rye High School.
The Pelicans also won a...
By Tommy Roche, Assistant Managing Editor January 3, 2020
After 28 years of publication, first as the print Pelham Weekly then solely as the online Pelhams-PLUS, the local news organization ended production on Dec. 31. According to readers and community leaders,...
By Tommy Roche, Assistant Managing Editor October 18, 2019
After a 16 game regular season, the Pelham girls varsity volleyball team won a 2019 league title following their recent win over Harrison. The team went 5-1 in league play, tying for the league title with...
An analysis by David Joachim of Bloomberg News suggests that combining services of the Village of Pelham and Village of Pelham Manor may moderately reduce costs and taxes. Despite the proposed benefits,...
Matthew Polenzani thought he would end up teaching high school chorus, not singing in the top opera houses of the world.
Polenzani, a Pelhamite, is an independent opera singer well known for his performances...
Amazon.com Inc.'s decision to withdraw its plans for a secondary headquarters in Long Island City, Queens, was primarily due to tension within the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB), a five-person...