Pelham Examiner

Pelham Examiner

Pelham Examiner

Bella Caruso, Senior Editor

Bella is a senior at Pelham Memorial High School. She plays field hockey and golf, is on the Pelican Yearbook Staff and is the President of the Pelham Together Club. She loves listening to music, especially Taylor Swift. Bella has a great interest in journalism, and is so excited to be writing for the Examiner!

All content by Bella Caruso
Garcia and Burke elected to school board; $91 million budget approved

Garcia and Burke elected to school board; $91 million budget approved

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
May 17, 2023

Annemarie Garcia and Sid Burke were elected to three-year terms on the board of education, with the district’s $91 million budget approved by voters 1,261 to 534. The spending plan raises taxes...

The good, the bad and the Ivy: Pelham and the college admissions process

The good, the bad and the Ivy: Pelham and the college admissions process

By Cristina Stefanizzi and Bella Caruso
May 13, 2023

As high school juniors make their transition into the college admissions process toward the end of the academic year, they're met with hundreds of mailings, email pitches and other advertisements from...

Candidate forum: Four seeking two school board seats discuss budgeting, new strategic plan, excellence

Candidate forum: Four seeking two school board seats discuss budgeting, new strategic plan, excellence

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
May 11, 2023

Four candidates for two open seats on the Pelham Board of Education discussed writing a new strategic plan, the importance of a smart budget and re-imagining excellence in the schools at a May 4 forum.  The...

School board approves $91 million budget after shifting reserves to cut tax rise to meet state cap

School board approves $91 million budget after shifting reserves to cut tax rise to meet state cap

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
April 26, 2023

The Pelham Board of Education unanimously approved a $91 million budget for the 2023-24 school year on Tuesday night. The proposed spending plan, along with two open seats on the board, will be on the...

Four candidates to run for two open seats on Pelham Board of Education

Four candidates to run for two open seats on Pelham Board of Education

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
April 19, 2023

Four candidates will vie for two open seats with three-year terms on the Pelham Board of Education during the school election May 16. District Clerk Pauline Davies said the candidates, all of whom filed...

Proposed budget for pupil personnel and student services presented at board of education meeting

Proposed budget for pupil personnel and student services presented at board of education meeting

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
March 29, 2023

Assistant Superintendent Traci Holtz presented the budget proposal for pupil personnel and student services during Tuesday’s board of education meeting. Nursing, school counselors, support staff and...

School board begins line-by-line review of proposed $91.1 budget that would raise taxes 2.95%

School board begins line-by-line review of proposed $91.1 budget that would raise taxes 2.95%

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
March 7, 2023

Kicking of the school district's budget season, Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ outlined Wednesday the aims of the preliminary $91.1 million budget for next year during the board of education meeting,...

PMHS principal presents vision for school at board work session; teachers voice need for more space, staffing, resources

PMHS principal presents vision for school at board work session; teachers voice need for more space, staffing, resources

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
February 9, 2023

Pelham Memorial High School Principal Mark Berkowitz stressed the importance of excellence empowered through community during a presentation on the vision for the high school at the Feb. 1 board of education...

Entrance to Franklin Field.

Two out-of-district students arrested after altercation with Pelham security guard near Franklin Field

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
January 24, 2023

On Monday afternoon, Village of Pelham police responded to the area around Franklin Field near the high school and middle school campus. There was a brief altercation between a group of students from a...

Mid-year schools report: Champ points to December guided discussion as wildly successful

Mid-year schools report: Champ points to December guided discussion as ‘wildly successful’

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
January 20, 2023

In a mid-year school district report, Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ told the school board Wednesday one major highlight of the first semester was the guided discussion on excellence in Pelham schools...

Siwanoy path at Pelhamdale Avenue.

School board reviews goals for year, Siwanoy safety concern, delay in PSAT scores

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
January 7, 2023

With the midway point of the school year approaching, the Pelham Board of Education began its budget season and a re-assessment of goals for the year during its meeting Wednesday. President Dr. Michael...

School administration hosts guided discussion on excellence in Pelham schools

School administration hosts guided discussion on excellence in Pelham schools

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
December 1, 2022

The Pelham school district's administration held Monday a guided discussion with residents on the topic of excellence in schools.  Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ introduced the event. Also present...

Kate Douglass swimming at the University of Virginia.

Kate Douglass breaks her own NCAA record for 200 yard breaststroke

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
November 21, 2022

Kate Douglass, a 2019 Pelham Memorial High School graduate and a member of the University of Virginia swim team, swam a 2:01.87 time in the 200 yard breaststroke on Saturday. The time broke Douglass's...

School board appoints Long Island educator as new PMHS assistant principal

School board appoints Long Island educator as new PMHS assistant principal

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
November 18, 2022

Dr. Kerri Titone-Lemanski was appointed as the new assistant principal of Pelham Memorial High School during Wednesday's board of education meeting. Dr. Titone was recommended by Superintendent Dr....

Colonial, PMHS PTA leaders call on school board to do more to fight hate and bias after swastika found at high school

Colonial, PMHS PTA leaders call on school board to do more to fight hate and bias after swastika found at high school

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
November 7, 2022

PTA leaders from Colonial Elementary School and Pelham Memorial High School called on the board of education to do more to fight hate and bias in the schools during Tuesday's board meeting, following the...

PMHS soccer, field hockey players say football team gets preference in field scheduling

PMHS soccer, field hockey players say football team gets preference in field scheduling

By Bella Caruso and Cristina Stefanizzi
October 26, 2022

Pelham Memorial High School student-athletes have criticized the athletic department for prioritizing the football team over other fall sports in allocating fields during the week, forcing delays, reschedulings...

Assistant superintendent addresses districts use of state test results after declines

Assistant superintendent addresses district’s use of state test results after declines

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
October 18, 2022

Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Dr. Alice Bowman discussed data from the state standardized tests for third through eighth graders and the high school Regents exams at Tuesday’s board...

Board of education recognizes 19 students for academic awards, hears update on PMHS assistant principal search

Board of education recognizes 19 students for academic awards, hears update on PMHS assistant principal search

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
October 3, 2022

Nineteen Pelham Memorial High School students were recognized by the board of education as recipients of academic honors from the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corp. at the start of Wednesday's...

Administrator tells school board drop in chemistry Regents caused by test inexperience, difficulty, open enrollment

Administrator tells school board drop in chemistry Regents caused by test inexperience, difficulty, open enrollment

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
September 14, 2022

An administrator told the Pelham school board the 21-percentage-point drop in students attaining proficiency in the 2022 chemistry Regents examination was the result of inexperience with the state tests,...

From left, School Board President Dr. Michael Owen-Michaane and Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ.

School board reviews search for new PMHS assistant principal, Franklin Field town pool idea

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
August 29, 2022

The Pelham Board of Education on Wednesday heard an update on the search for a new Pelham Memorial High School assistant principal and addressed a proposal to build a town pool on Franklin Field. School...

Dr. Michael Owen-Michaane was elected the new school board president.

Owen-Michaane elected school board president, Rowe its vp; new assistant superintendent named

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
July 14, 2022

Dr. Michael Owen-Michaane and Ian Rowe were unanimously elected school board president and vice president, respectively, for the 2022-23 school year during the board's reorganization meeting Tuesday. The...

Same vote different day: School board re-votes to approve new contract for Champ by 4-3 margin

Same vote different day: School board re-votes to approve new contract for Champ by 4-3 margin

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
July 1, 2022

The Pelham Board of Education re-voted 4-3 on Thursday to grant Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ a new four-year contract, approving the same resolution it passed two weeks earlier to correct a violation...

Trustee Michael Owen-Michaane (center) moved to table the resolution approving Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champs new contract until July.

Last meeting of year: Board of education votes 4-3 to give Champ new four-year contract

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
June 21, 2022

The Pelham Board of Education voted 4-3 to grant Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ a new four-year contract at its last meeting of the year on Wednesday, extending her term as schools chief by an additional...

Three fire departments battle house blaze on Edgemere Street in Pelham Manor

Three fire departments battle house blaze on Edgemere Street in Pelham Manor

By Bella Caruso, Managing Editor
June 3, 2022

The Pelham Manor, Pelham and New Rochelle fire departments fought a house fire at 39 Edgemere St. in Pelham Manor Thursday night. The house, which belongs to Roger and Marissa Medina-Mora, was empty...

Newly elected board trustees Will Treves, Jackie De Angelis and Natalie Marrero.

Capital reserve rejected, $84.2 million budget approved; Treves, De Angelis and Marrero elected to school board

By Bella Caruso and Cristina Stefanizzi
May 18, 2022

The proposed capital reserve was rejected Tuesday by Pelham school district voters and the $84.2 million budget was approved, while Will Treves, Jackie De Angelis and Natalie Marrero were elected to three-year...

Forum: Six school trustee candidates discuss board transparency, strategic plan, student mental health post Covid-19

By Georgia Russello and Bella Caruso
May 14, 2022

The six candidates running for three open Pelham school board seats discussed board transparency, the district’s strategic plan, student mental-health issues due to Covid-19 and how to support student...

Overturning Roe v. Wade: Speaking out to defend womens reproductive rights

Overturning Roe v. Wade: Speaking out to defend women’s reproductive rights

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
May 11, 2022

A leaked draft opinion suggests the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade may be overturned this summer. That decision, issued in 1973, grants all pregnant individuals the legal right to an abortion....

According to the school district, the boilers at Pelham Memorial High School are among the items that could be funded by the proposed capital reserve.

Champ defends proposed capital reserve fund at public budget forums

By Oliver Tam and Bella Caruso
April 29, 2022

Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ defended the proposed capital reserve fund after residents expressed concern over its purpose during public hearings about the fund and the tentative 2022-23 district...

Its official: Six candidates file to run for Pelham school board on May 17

It’s official: Six candidates file to run for Pelham school board on May 17

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
April 27, 2022

Six candidates will be on the ballot May 17 for three seats on the Pelham Board of Education. District clerk Pauline Davies confirmed the following filed petitions by the April 18 deadline and that...

School board votes 6-1 to move forward with capital-reserve fund that would use budget surpluses; voters must approve

School board votes 6-1 to move forward with capital-reserve fund that would use budget surpluses; voters must approve

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
March 30, 2022

The Pelham Board of Education voted 6-1 Wednesday to take steps to establish a capital-reserve fund using budget surpluses, while also discussing retaining elementary interventionists for another year...

CNC gives its nod to six candidates for Pelham Board of Education

CNC gives its nod to six candidates for Pelham Board of Education

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
March 14, 2022

The Citizens Nominating Committee (CNC) gave its stamp of approval Monday to six candidates for the three open seats on the Pelham Board of Education, according to a letter from the CNC. The candidates...

Citizens Nominating Committee seeks school board candidates after two-year pandemic hiatus

Citizens Nominating Committee seeks school board candidates after two-year pandemic hiatus

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
February 28, 2022

The Citizens Nominating Committee has returned after a two-year pandemic hiatus and is seeking school board candidates to interview for the three open seats on the May 17 ballot. The CNC was set up...

Brice, Tahbaz and Mazzaro will not seek reelection to school board

Brice, Tahbaz and Mazzaro will not seek reelection to school board

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
February 22, 2022

The three school trustees whose terms are up this year—John Brice, Leah Tahbaz and Vincent Mazzaro—each announced they will not seek reelection at recent board of education meetings. Their three-year...

Special ed and counseling chief resigns from Pelham school district

Special ed and counseling chief resigns from Pelham school district

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
February 7, 2022

Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services Julia Chung has resigned effective March 4 after two years with the Pelham school district, said Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ in an email Monday. Chung...

Teams at PMS, bonding days, DBT among mental health programs covered at school board work session

Teams at PMS, bonding days, DBT among mental health programs covered at school board work session

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
February 7, 2022

Splitting middle school grades into two teams and bonding days and dialectical behavioral therapy at the high school were covered during a Pelham school board work session on student mental health.  “Educators...

Trustee Leah Tahbaz

Residents criticize revisions to school district’s six-month-old diversity policy

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
February 1, 2022

The Pelham Board of Education laid out a major rewrite of the diversity, equity and inclusion policy it adopted only six months ago, prompting criticism from eight Pelham residents during the Jan. 19 board...

PMHS basketball home court

District changes spectator policy for winter sports and concerts after protest at school board meeting

By Oliver Tam and Bella Caruso
December 13, 2021

Thirty high school basketball players and their parents attended the Pelham school board meeting Wednesday to protest the district's limit of two spectators per player at each game. Two days later, interim...

Update: Democrat McLoughlin and GOPs Szymanski win seats on town council, swinging board to Dems

Update: Democrat McLoughlin and GOP’s Szymanski win seats on town council, swinging board to Dems

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
November 3, 2021

Democrat Kara McLoughlin and Republican incumbent Rae Szymanski were elected to four-year terms on the Pelham Town Council, as McLoughlin took first handedly with a 415-vote margin over Szymanski, according...

List of Pelham candidates on the ballot on the Westchester County Board of Elections website.

Election preview: Two GOP candidates face Democrat for two Pelham town board seats, with Dem who left race also on ballot

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
November 2, 2021

On Election Day Tuesday, the only competitive race in Pelham is for two at-large town council seats, pitting Republicans Rae Szymanski and Tade Reen against Democrat Kara McLoughlin. However, voters...

Current contractor Oakridge Waste & Recycling will be replaced by a Village of Pelham sanitation department in January.

Village of Pelham trustees okay buying four diesel garbage trucks, paving way for village-run collection

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
October 3, 2021

The Village of Pelham Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to purchase four new diesel garbage trucks. The action brings the village a big step closer to creating a sanitation department and ceasing...

Current contractor Oakridge Waste & Recycling will be replaced by a Village of Pelham sanitation department in January.

Village of Pelham board delays vote on buying trash trucks until Tuesday; trustees indicate okay likely

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
September 24, 2021

The Village of Pelham Board of Trustees decided Sept. 14 to postpone for two weeks a vote on the purchase of four garbage trucks, a step at the core of the board's plan to create a village sanitation department...

Current contractor Oakridge Waste & Recycling will be replaced by a Village of Pelham sanitation department in January.

Village of Pelham to borrow $2.36 mln, plans to buy 4 garbage trucks, bring trash pickup in house

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
September 13, 2021

The Village of Pelham Board of Trustees plans to purchase four garbage trucks to bring trash collection in house, funding the project from $2.36 million in bonds the village will sell. A resolution...

Democrat Kara McLoughlin (l.) and Republican Tade Reen won seats on the town board.

Three candidates for two town board seats stress connections, experience

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
July 26, 2021

All three candidates for two Pelham Town Council seats up for election Nov. 2 stressed their connections and experience in interviews with the Pelham Examiner, while Kara McLoughlin, the lone Democrat...

Pelham Examiner Assistant Managing Editor Bella Caruso (left) and Managing Editor Georgia Russello check the first print edition during its press run.

PELHAM EXAMINER PUBLISHES FIRST PRINT EDITION!

By Bella Caruso, Assistant Managing Editor
July 23, 2021

Throughout the prolonged course of the Covid-19 pandemic, the staff of the Pelham Examiner continued to write about daily changes in all our lives for more than a year. The stories on the website shifted...

Republican, Democratic candidates will battle for two town council seats in fall elections

Republican, Democratic candidates will battle for two town council seats in fall elections

By Bella Caruso, Staff Reporter
June 17, 2021

In local elections this fall, the Republicans and Democrats will contest two town council seats, while only the GOP is running candidates for three other town posts and only the Democrats have a slate...

Village Administrator Omar Small discussed the increased responsibilities facing local governments during the pandemic.

Scelza serving as acting village administrator for Pelham following Small’s resignation

By Bella Caruso, Staff Reporter
June 1, 2021

Chris Scelza is serving as acting administrator for the Village of Pelham following Omar Small's resignation, which was announced in January and became effective April 1. Scelza had been the village’s...

Rowe (left) and Owen-Michaane.

Rowe and Owen-Michaane elected to Pelham school board; $80.3 million budget approved

By Bella Caruso and Zoe Winburn
May 20, 2021

Ian Rowe and Dr. Michael Owen-Michaane were elected to three-year terms on the Pelham school board Tuesday, defeating incumbents Eileen Miller and Jessica Young and first-time candidate Janice Powers,...

Pelham Memorial High School

Staff’s work honored at school board meeting; no one speaks during budget public hearing

By Bella Caruso, Staff Reporter
May 7, 2021

The Pelham Board of Education discussed Teacher Appreciation Week at Wednesday's meeting and held a public hearing on the proposed 2021-2022 school district budget, which drew no speakers. With Teacher...

Village board votes to pass new budget that exceeds state tax cap

Village board votes to pass new budget that exceeds state tax cap

By Bella Caruso, Staff Reporter
April 29, 2021

In an unanimous vote, Village of Pelham Mayor Chance Mullen, Deputy Mayor Mike Carpenter and all five village trustees passed the mayor's proposed budget at the village board meeting on Tuesday. The budget...

Village of Pelhams proposed $16.2 million budget draws question from one resident during public hearing

Village of Pelham’s proposed $16.2 million budget draws question from one resident during public hearing

By Bella Caruso, Staff Reporter
April 16, 2021

The Village of Pelham Board of Trustees received one question Tuesday during a public hearing on its proposed $16.2 million budget for 2021-22. “If expenses are growing at 4% per year, does that make...

Pelham Mayor Chance Mullen

Pelham mayor says increasing taxes above cap will put village on solid footing post-pandemic

By Bella Caruso, Staff Reporter
April 13, 2021

Village of Pelham Mayor Chance Mullen said his proposed $16.2 million budget—which exceeds the tax cap—will put the village on more stable financial footing in the coming fiscal year and includes...

Mayor Jennifer Monachino Lapey won a new two-year term.

Republican incumbents sweep in Pelham Manor village elections

By Bella Caruso, Staff Reporter
March 17, 2021

The three Republican incumbents swept the Village of Pelham Manor elections in balloting that saw strong voter turnout, with Mayor Jennifer Monachino Lapey and trustees Angela Michele DeLillo and Joseph...

As Manor Democrats hold 628 margin in registered voters, campaigns craft strategies for changing village

As Manor Democrats hold 628 margin in registered voters, campaigns craft strategies for changing village

By Bella Caruso, Staff Reporter
March 9, 2021

Registered Democrats overtook Republicans in the Village of Pelham Manor four years ago, with the Democratic Party holding a 628-voter advantage as of November, according to data from the New York State...

All three Democrats are also running on the Pelham Manor Forward party line.

Manor Democratic mayoral candidate McGrory points to gaps in village’s police reform report

By Bella Caruso, Staff Reporter
February 17, 2021

The Village of Pelham Manor review of the police department missed "a lot," failing to recognize "the George Floyd murder happened" and the fact there is "inconsistent police interaction" in the village,...

Image from manorleadership.com.

Manor Republican platform promises ‘highest level of village services’ with fiscal responsibility

By Bella Caruso, Staff Reporter
February 15, 2021

The Republican Party platform for the Village of Pelham Manor elections underlines the candidates' record of "sound governance" and promises they will "continue to ensure that the village uses our tax...

Image from www.pelhammanorforward.com.

Manor Democratic platform proposes standing committees on environment, engagement and plan to revisit police reform

By Bella Caruso, Staff Reporter
February 15, 2021

The Democratic Party platform in the Pelham Manor election promises the candidates will name three standing committees on environmental sustainability, community engagement and fiscal responsibility "to...

All three Democrats are also running on the Pelham Manor Forward party line.

Manor Democratic candidates oppose merger of villages, promise ‘new values’ if elected

By Bella Caruso, Staff Reporter
February 10, 2021

All three Pelham Manor Democratic candidates voiced opposition to the idea of merging the Village of Pelham Manor and the Village of Pelham during their first "Meet the Candidates" Zoom session Sunday. "We...

Pelham Manor Mayor Jennifer Monachino Lapey cut the ribbon at Flour Powers grand opening.

Flour Power brings a bakery back to Four Corners with grand opening Saturday

By Bella Caruso, Staff Reporter
January 19, 2021

Excitement arose in town on Saturday with the grand opening of Flour Power, a new bakery on Boston Post Road in Pelham Manor. Flour Power replaces the Bakery at Four Corners, which closed in 2018. ...

PTA, Pelham Together campaign organizes 750 student Letters of Gratitude to faculty and staff

PTA, Pelham Together campaign organizes 750 student Letters of Gratitude to faculty and staff

By Bella Caruso, Staff Reporter
December 4, 2020

To brighten up the winter for the staff of the Pelham schools, the PTA Council teamed up with Pelham Together to create the Letters of Gratitude campaign. The 750 student-created cards were sent last week...

Pelham merchants aim to return to business as usual as Covid redefines customer interaction

Pelham merchants aim to return to business as usual as Covid redefines customer interaction

By Bella Caruso
October 14, 2020

Pelham businesses have sought various ways to adapt to the coronavirus pandemic and serve the residents of the community. Ballet Arts Ballet Arts has always been known for their traditional, classic...

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