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AD At School District In Westchester Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen AD At School District In Westchester Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen
AD At School District In Westchester Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen This story has been updated. An athletic director at a school district in Westchester County has been arrested and charged in connection with allegedly extorting a teenager to send sexually explicit images and videos. Thomas James Puccini, 28 years old and employed as the Interim Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics by the Eastchester Union Free School District, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 1. He was charged with felony grand larceny in the fourth degree and was arraigned in White Plains City Court by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Puccini has been pla…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Past Athletes Inducted Into Northern Westchester High School's 2024 Hall Of Fame Past Athletes Inducted Into Northern Westchester High School's 2024 Hall Of Fame
Past Athletes Inducted Into Northern Westchester High School's 2024 Hall Of Fame Several standout athletes from years past, including three complete teams, were honored by being inducted into a Northern Westchester high school's hall of fame. The honorees were recognized during a halftime ceremony held at the Lakeland-Somers football game on Friday evening, Oct. 25, Lakeland Central School District officials said.  Those inducted into the 2024 Hall of Fame included:  Basketball player Jen Ritz, who graduated in 2004 and was the first Lakeland High School basketball player to play for a Division I team at Iona College (now Iona University). A captain for…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
School District Names New Superintendent In Northern Westchester School District Names New Superintendent In Northern Westchester
School District Names New Superintendent In Northern Westchester A Northern Westchester school district has selected its next superintendent months after placing its previous leader on administrative leave.  During a Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 23, Adam VanDerStuyf was named Superintendent of the North Salem Central School District.  VanDerStuyf had been serving as Acting Superintendent since Monday, July 22 after his predecessor, Duncan Wilson, was placed on administrative leave. The reason for this was not revealed by the district.  In a statement, VanDerStuyf said his appointment is …

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by Ben Crnic
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Northern Westchester High School Student To Perform At Internationally-Known Concert Venues Northern Westchester High School Student To Perform At Internationally-Known Concert Venues
Northern Westchester High School Student To Perform At Internationally-Known Concert Venues After years of hard work, a Northern Westchester high school junior will be showcasing their talents at two iconic concert venues along with other gifted singers.  Alexandra Numeroff, a junior at Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose, will be performing at Manhattan's Carnegie Hall and Australia's Sydney Opera House after being accepted into the WorldStrides Honors Performance Program as an Honor Choir member.  According to Hendrick Hudson School District officials, the Honors Performance Series recognizes students for their talent, dedication, and achievements shown i…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Recall Of 11.7M Pounds Of Meat, Poultry: List Released Of NY Schools That Received Products Recall Of 11.7M Pounds Of Meat, Poultry: List Released Of NY Schools That Received Products
Recall Of 11.7M Pounds Of Meat, Poultry: List Released Of NY Schools That Received Products A preliminary list has been released of schools that received items that were part of a nationwide recall of millions of pounds of meat and poultry products over fears they may be contaminated with Listeria. The initial recall involving the manufacturer, Bruce Pac, was for 9,986,245 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) products sold at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Trader Joe's, 7-Eleven, Aldi, and other stores. It was announced on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Earlier this week, the recall was expanded to include 11,765,285 pounds of products, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspectio…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Westchester Well-Represented In Brand-New Best High School Rankings Westchester Well-Represented In Brand-New Best High School Rankings
Westchester Well-Represented In Brand-New Best High School Rankings New York is well-represented in brand-new rankings of the best high schools in New York. The first four in Niche's 2025 selections are all from New York City: Stuyvesant in Manhattan, the Bronx High School of Science, Staten Island Technical High School, and Townsend Harris High School in Queens. Checking in at No. 5 and the first Westchester County selection is Scarsdale High School. The first Long Island school picked is No. 7 Half Hollow Hills West in Dix Hills. Long Island schools also make up spots 10 through 13: They are Jericho, Syosset, and Great Neck South high schools. Four mor…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
New Film, Television School Celebrates Opening In Westchester New Film, Television School Celebrates Opening In Westchester
New Film, Television School Celebrates Opening In Westchester An all-new academy in Westchester has started teaching the next generation of television and film talent, officials announced.  The Robert Halmi Sr. Academy of Film and Television in Yonkers at 463 Hawthorne Ave. celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 23, city officials announced.  The school will teach film industry-centered courses, including production design, performance, sound design, and editing.  It's named after Robert Halmi Sr., a movie director and producer who produced more than 300 television series, miniseries, and fi…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Leader Of Westchester School District Named NYS Superintendent Of Year Leader Of Westchester School District Named NYS Superintendent Of Year
Leader Of Westchester School District Named NYS Superintendent Of Year The head of a Westchester County school district has been awarded a top honor for superintendents in New York State.  Tarrytown Union Free School District Superintendent Raymond Sanchez was named the Superintendent of the Year for 2025 by the New York State Council of School Superintendents, the organization announced on Monday, Sept. 23. Council President Lars Clemensen, the superintendent of the Hampton Bays School District on Long Island, explained the reasons why Sanchez was chosen:  "Ray’s recognition as the New York State Superintendent of the Year is a testa…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
These Westchester Schools Named 2024 National Blue Ribbon Winners These Westchester Schools Named 2024 National Blue Ribbon Winners
These Westchester Schools Named 2024 National Blue Ribbon Winners Two schools in Westchester County have received national recognition for their academic performance.  Both Blind Brook High School in Rye Brook and Scarsdale High School were named 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools, the US Department of Education announced on Monday, Sept. 23.  The National Blue Ribbon Program, which was created in 1982, celebrates high-achieving public and private elementary, middle, and high schools. Schools are chosen based on their student academic achievement measures and progress toward closing gaps among diverse groups of pupils.  Both Westchester sch…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
New Poll Reveals NYers' Views On Banning Cell Phone Use In Schools New Poll Reveals NYers' Views On Banning Cell Phone Use In Schools
New Poll Reveals NYers' Views On Banning Cell Phone Use In Schools With the new school year comes renewed debate over the use of cell phones in the classroom. Among New York parents of school-age children, 77-percent support barring cell phone use in schools during the day, a Mount Sinai South Nassau “Truth in Medicine” poll found. Most parents, 72-percent, said they still want their child to have their phone on them in case of an emergency, the poll found. Earlier Report: Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children The poll was conducted by 600 parents with at least one child under the age of 18 in New York Cit…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
School District In Westchester Marks Highest Graduation Rate In Over 20 Years School District In Westchester Marks Highest Graduation Rate In Over 20 Years
School District In Westchester Marks Highest Graduation Rate In Over 20 Years A school district in Westchester has bounced back from a turbulent year by recording its highest graduation rate in more than two decades.  In an announcement on Friday, Sept. 20, the Mount Vernon City School District revealed its 2023-2024 graduation rate had climbed to 79.9 percent, a level not seen in over 20 years, according to the district.  The rate increased 5.6 percentage points over the previous school year, officials added.  Graduation rates for individual schools in the city were recorded as: Mount Vernon High School: 82.7 percent; Denzel Washington School of th…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
These Bedford Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists These Bedford Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
These Bedford Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists Several talented high school seniors in Westchester and Putnam have been recognized for their impressive achievements by being named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists.  Those who earned this title join more than 16,000 other students across the country also named as semifinalists after earning high marks on the Preliminary SAT during their junior year.  Now, each semifinalist must fulfill requirements to advance to the finalist level, including submitting an application including information about their academic record, school and extracurricular activities, leadership abil…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
5 Byram Hills HS Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists 5 Byram Hills HS Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
5 Byram Hills HS Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists Five high-achieving high school seniors from Northern Westchester now have the chance to compete for scholarships worth over $25 million in total, district officials announced.  The five students, who attend Byram Hills High School in Armonk, were named semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program, the Byram Hills Central School District announced on Thursday, Sept. 12.  The students named as semifinalists include: Zoe Harris; Andrew Levy; Olivia Long; Sarina Metsch; Aaron Stein. All five seniors originally entered the scholarship competition during their ju…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
3 Students At Northern Westchester School Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists 3 Students At Northern Westchester School Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
3 Students At Northern Westchester School Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists Three high school students from Northern Westchester have earned national recognition for their above-average achievements, district officials announced.  Three students at John Jay High School in Lewisboro, William Harris, Austin Omin, and Nina Vigi, have been named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, the Katonah-Lewisboro School District revealed on Monday, Sept. 9. The trio are now among 50,000 students also named semifinalists who were chosen based on their scores on the Preliminary SAT and the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in their junior years.  Semi…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
New Law Will Put A Student On Every School Board In NY New Law Will Put A Student On Every School Board In NY
New Law Will Put A Student On Every School Board In NY There will soon be a student on every school board in New York.A new law requiring all state boards of education to have at least one student member will take effect on July 1, 2025. The students will attend public meetings, but not executive sessions, and won't be allowed to vote. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the bill on Thursday, Sept. 5. It will also remove the current law requirement that a student member seat be authorized by referendum of the voters of the district.  The bill would also remove the requirement that a student member be a senior at the school and instead require only …

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
This City In Westchester To Put $5.8M Toward Air Conditioning In 39 Schools This City In Westchester To Put $5.8M Toward Air Conditioning In 39 Schools
This City In Westchester To Put $5.8M Toward Air Conditioning In 39 Schools A city in Westchester is committing millions of dollars toward putting air conditioning in all of its school buildings to help students deal with rising temperatures.  In an announcement on Wednesday, Aug. 28, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and Superintendent Aníbal Soler, Jr. revealed that $5.8 million in capital funding would be spent on air-conditioning in the city's 39 public school buildings over the next three years.  The initiative is part of an effort to improve all aspects of the school experience for the city's students, Spano and Soler said.  "Investing in the…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
County Equips School Buses With Stop-Arm Cameras In Hudson Valley County Equips School Buses With Stop-Arm Cameras In Hudson Valley
County Equips School Buses With Stop-Arm Cameras In Hudson Valley A Hudson Valley county is ensuring drivers are fined for not stopping for a stopped school bus by installing new stop-arm cameras. Rockland County Executive Ed Day announced on Tuesday, Aug. 27, that stop-arm cameras have been installed on nearly all school buses countywide in time for the 2024 school year. “These cameras will automatically record any vehicle that illegally passes a stopped school bus, capturing crucial evidence that will be used to enforce traffic laws and hold offenders accountable,” explained Day. “But this program is not about enforcement; it’s about saving lives, and n…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
This Hudson Valley School District Latest To Ban Students' Cell Phones: Here's Where This Hudson Valley School District Latest To Ban Students' Cell Phones: Here's Where
This Hudson Valley School District Latest To Ban Students' Cell Phones: Here's Where Students in another Hudson Valley school district will be forced to look up from their phone screens, as officials will be requiring them to lock up their devices for the entire day.  In its end-of-summer newsletter, the Garrison Union Free School District in Putnam County announced that it will no longer allow cell phone use during the instructional day between 8:25 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.  During this time, students will have to store their devices in lockers and keep them powered down or in silent mode. More information about the policy will be contained in the district's updated&nb…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Westchester School District Taps New Technology, Innovation Director Westchester School District Taps New Technology, Innovation Director
Westchester School District Taps New Technology, Innovation Director An educator who has led learning communities on modern concepts such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality has been selected as a Westchester school district's new technology director. Jerrod Blair's appointment as the Irvington Union Free School District's new director of technology and innovation was announced by the district on Thursday, Aug. 22.  Blair, who was chosen after a long search process, will start in the position on Friday, Sept. 6. According to the district, he is a "standout" in the field and has led professional learning communities on topics including AI an…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
HS Club From Northern Westchester Wins National Championship HS Club From Northern Westchester Wins National Championship
HS Club From Northern Westchester Wins National Championship Only two years after it was first started, an aeronautics club from a Northern Westchester high school emerged victorious in a prestigious national competition. The Yorktown High School Aeronautics Club competed in the finals in the Beginner Division of the UAS4STEM competition held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin from Monday, July 22 to Wednesday, July 24, school officials announced on Wednesday, Aug. 14.  The club was one of only five teams of drone enthusiasts to qualify for the finals, which took place during AirVenture, an aviation celebration that garners over a half-million visitors …

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
School Announces Sudden Closure After Almost 30 Years In Westchester School Announces Sudden Closure After Almost 30 Years In Westchester
School Announces Sudden Closure After Almost 30 Years In Westchester After nearly three decades, a nursery school in Westchester has announced that it will shut its doors for good.  New Beginnings Nursery School, located in Tarrytown at the Reformed Church of the Tarrytowns at 42 North Broadway (Route 9), is now closed, owner Patricia Kreamer announced on Wednesday, Aug. 14.  According to Kreamer, the church's consistory voted on Tuesday, Aug. 6 to close the school "without any regard" to the school's staff or families.  "I was not allowed to voice my concerns or advocate for our school since it was behind closed doors,"&n…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
School Board Member In Hudson Valley Under Fire For Comments On Israel-Hamas War School Board Member In Hudson Valley Under Fire For Comments On Israel-Hamas War
School Board Member In Hudson Valley Under Fire For Comments On Israel-Hamas War Elected officials and community members are calling for a Hudson Valley school board member to step down following alleged antisemitic remarks made at a board meeting.  The outrage was prompted following a school board meeting in Putnam County on Tuesday, July 9, when Carmel Central School District Trustee Jim Wise allegedly controversy within the town over a comment on the Israel-Hamas war. The statement in question, "From the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free," was defended by Wise in a post on social media on Wednesday, Aug. 7.  "I also reject absolutely the idea that …

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Pair Of New Principals Named At School District In Hudson Valley Pair Of New Principals Named At School District In Hudson Valley
Pair Of New Principals Named At School District In Hudson Valley Two new principals will soon take the lead at two Hudson Valley schools. In an announcement on Thursday, July 25, the Carmel Central School District in Putnam County revealed that new principals were hired for both Kent Primary School and Kent Elementary School.  Vincent Fino, the former Assistant Principal at Carmel High School, will take over at Kent Primary School. He replaces Dan Brown, who retired at the end of the 2023-24 school year, the district said. Meanwhile, John Fratto will be the next principal at Kent Elementary School and replace Michael Setaro, who will begin a new ro…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
North Salem Superintendent Put On Administrative Leave North Salem Superintendent Put On Administrative Leave
North Salem Superintendent Put On Administrative Leave A Northern Westchester school district has appointed a new acting superintendent after putting its previous leader on administrative leave.  The North Salem Central School District announced on Wednesday, July 24, that Superintendent Duncan Wilson had been placed on administrative leave.  In his place, Adam VanDerStuyf was named Acting Superintendent on Monday, July 22, according to the school board.  VanDerStuyf, who has been with the district since 2015, has held roles such as Director of Pupil Personnel Services and Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Personnel Se…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
High School Near Westchester Border To Permanently Close After 100 Years High School Near Westchester Border To Permanently Close After 100 Years
High School Near Westchester Border To Permanently Close After 100 Years A high school near the border of Westchester will cease operations and not re-open in September of 2024. St. Barnabus High School in the north Bronx said the decision was made "with a heavy heart." "Despite such a beautiful and successful celebration of our 100th anniversary, our school is unable to overcome the financial strain it has been under for many years," the school said in announcing the news. "Enrollment levels over the past several years have challenged our ability to meet the costs of providing a quality curriculum.  "In addition, the rising costs of operating the building…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Cyberattack Hits School District In Hudson Valley Cyberattack Hits School District In Hudson Valley
Cyberattack Hits School District In Hudson Valley A school district in the Hudson Valley was the target of a cyberattack that disabled computer services and access to phones and email. In Orange County, the Goshen Central School District announced on Thursday, July 11, that it was the subject of the ransomware incident. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kurtis Kotes said the district notified law enforcement and is working with cyber security experts to determine the source of the attack and take the necessary steps to repair the problems as quickly as possible. In an update late Friday afternoon, July 12, Kotes said: "The disaster reco…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
New Superintendent Takes Command At One Of Hudson Valley's Largest School Districts New Superintendent Takes Command At One Of Hudson Valley's Largest School Districts
New Superintendent Takes Command At One Of Hudson Valley's Largest School Districts An educator with decades of experience is following in the footsteps of her father and stepping up to lead a large Hudson Valley school district.  On Monday, July 1, Erin Meehan-Fairben officially began her position as superintendent of Putnam County's Carmel Central School District, to which she holds deeply personal ties.  A native of the area, Fairben was born in Putnam County Hospital and was raised within the Carmel community until she was around 5 years old. As a child, she used to play on the steps of Carmel's one-room schoolhouse as her father, Richard R. Meehan,…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
2023 Valedictorian, Salutatorian Announced By Byram Hills High School 2023 Valedictorian, Salutatorian Announced By Byram Hills High School
2023 Valedictorian, Salutatorian Announced By Byram Hills High School Two high-achieving seniors at a Northern Westchester high school are being recognized for landing at the top of their class.  In an announcement on Wednesday, June 12, Byram Hills High School revealed its valedictorian and salutatorian for the class of 2024 are Grace Lin and Daniel Ndocaj, respectively.  The school's administration and faculty celebrated both students' accomplishments. "The achievement is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and excellence throughout their four years at BHHS," said Principal Christopher Walsh, who revealed the top-ranked stu…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
New Superintendent Named At Katonah-Lewisboro School District New Superintendent Named At Katonah-Lewisboro School District
New Superintendent Named At Katonah-Lewisboro School District A Northern Westchester superintendent will soon transition to leading another nearby district in the county. In an announcement on Friday, June 14, the Katonah-Lewisboro School District revealed its next superintendent would be Raymond Blanch, who will be formally appointed in the role by the Board of Education on Thursday, June 20.  Blanch, who has served as superintendent of the Somers Central School District since July 2010, will officially begin in his new role on Monday, July 15.  Blanch's selection follows multiple rounds of interviews conducted by the school board in an ef…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Bedford Students Help Name Baby Falcons Born On Top Of New Tappan Zee Bridge Bedford Students Help Name Baby Falcons Born On Top Of New Tappan Zee Bridge
Bedford Students Help Name Baby Falcons Born On Top Of New Tappan Zee Bridge Thanks to elementary school students in Westchester and Rockland counties, several baby peregrine falcons born on top of the new Tappan Zee Bridge have been bestowed with creative names.  To name the falcons, which were born in late May on top of the new Tappan Zee Bridge, the New York State Thruway Authority and Veolia Water held a contest in which voters could decide between several names chosen by schoolchildren throughout the region. Nearly 200,000 votes later, the results are in — the four winning names are:  Beakoncé, which earned 26 percent of votes and was the idea of Ms…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President
Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President The president of Long Island’s Stony Brook University has been selected to first permanent female president of Yale University. Maurie McInnis was named Yale’s 24th president in an announcement by the school. The 58-year-old cultural historian, currently serving as the president of Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, graduated from Yale with a Ph.D in art history in 1996. In the years since her graduation, McInnis has served in senior positions at the University of Virginia and the University of Texas at Austin before moving to Stony Brook University in 2020. She became a Yale trus…

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by Sophie Grieser