SummerFest took over Chester Park on June 3rd, 2023 and everyone had a great time. This was the best family day in Pelham yet again. The teen bands were exceptional, the food by Depot Dave Catering fueled the day, kids loved the crafts and the obstacle course, tie dye was awesome, some grooved to Thrive, and all the dogs were the best (especially Maggie, Blanche, and Larry, who won our various contests)!
Read MoreJune 3rd from 3-8pm….SummerFest is back!! Join Pelham Together and your neighbors in Chester Park to enjoy a day full of fun for every age! As usual, the event will begin with our super popular Dog Parade, and the rest of the day will include activities such as tie-dye, mini-golf, carnival games, an obstacle course, face painting, volleyball/badminton, lawn games, kids’ crafts, and….center stage….our teen musicians! Depot Dave will be there serving his delicious food from the grill (burgers, including veggie, hot dogs, chicken); Pelicones ice cream, cotton candy and a beer garden (21+).
Read MoreBy Melissa Ronan, LMSW, Pelham Together Executive Board Member, and Chair of the Pelham Together Mental Health Committee
It’s not just that your teen is drinking. The bigger issue with teenage drinking is that many kids drink to cope instead of learning to cope. And teens with mental health problems often drink to self-medicate, camouflaging the symptoms of underlying issues that are developing. Studies show that the later kids start drinking, the less likely they are to ever develop a substance abuse problem. So delaying or minimizing teen drinking has significant long-term benefits to their physical and emotional well-being.
Read MoreWhat a great way to de-stress from the tests!! PMHS, PMHS PTA, and Pelham Together Youth Council organized some much-needed time with the most adorable dogs on Thursday, May 11th. Lulu, Addie, and Minka were so lovable! We look forward to doing this again in the future!
Read MoreWhen I was 45, I had my son tested for ADHD. Looking over his shoulder, I read the questionnaire. “Don’t finish projects you start,” “difficulty sustaining attention,” “struggle to get organized,” “avoid, dislike or are reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort,” -- these were characteristics of a diagnosable mental illness that could be treated?? I got distracted from helping my son take the quiz because a light bulb had gone off in my head about so many of my own lifelong struggles.
Read MoreSecond in our series for Mental Health Awareness Month is this podcast by Lisa Damour, PhD, "How Do I Tell If My Child Has An Eating Disorder." While the episode first aired during the pandemic, the topic and her suggestions are still relevant, insightful, and actionable. We have been asked for information on this topic more and more, among all genders, across ages, races, and ethnicities.
Read MoreDuring the month of May, we will be posting weekly about a variety of mental health issues . We chose these topics because they are brought to us by parents most frequently. Each week we’ll post them on social media, and add them to this blog post, so keep checking back!
Read MorePelham Together is deeply grateful for a significant show of support from Terry Clements, the Westchester County Legislator for District 11. This support will enable Pelham Together to expand youth programs including summer internships, year-round employment opportunities, connections with trusted adults, connections to peers, and mental health support for all Pelham youth.
Read MoreOn Saturday, March 25th, Pelham Together and the Pelham Middle School PTA hosted ANOTHER open skate night, and this time it was the 8th Graders turn!! Another fun night for all! Thank you to the parent chaperones, without whom we could not host these events. Click through for some GREAT PICS!!
Read MoreOn March 8, 2023, Make Caring Common of Harvard University hosted a webinar with bullying expert, Dr. Dorothy Espelage, to discuss bullying prevention and intervention. It was EXCELLENT. Check out a write up of key takeaways—including a discussion of what is bullying? What does and doesn’t work to prevent it?—and a recording of the full webinar is at the end.
This event was chocked full of resources, recommendations, and fabulous information for parents, schools, and communities.
Read MorePT Youth Council held it’s annual Anthony Senerchia Jr Memorial Dodgeball Tournament, which raises money for ALS, on Saturday, March 18th.
Read MoreOn Saturday, March 18th, Pelham Together and the Pelham Middle School PTA hosted an open skate night for 7th grade students. Fun was had by everyone!
Read MoreOn March 11th, Pelham Together joined the Girl Scouts and other members of the community for a day of health, wellness, and safety at the Pelham Library. Kim Trapasso, LCSW, and PT Counseling Program Director presented to over 20 5th-7th graders to help them build confidence around home alone safety.
Read MoreWe’re so proud to announce this new collaboration between Pelham Together and Pelham Rec Camps! By working together we will be able to help Rec camps be as responsive as possible to the mental health of their campers - a win all around!
Read MoreOn March 1st middle school parents gathered in the MS Library to hear Rosalind Wiseman, noted author and bullying prevention expert, talk about bullying and our kids’ peer-to-peer relationships. Some key points she made were the difference between treating people with dignity vs respect, and what motivates young people to make healthy and considerate choices (hint: feeling proud and avoidance of being ‘called out’ negatively are big). The Q&A was robust, and we all left wanting more.
Read MoreA 5-hour interactive online training experience to teach and apply practical techniques for effective behavior management. Sessions will be held on three Fridays from 11:30am-1pm, 4/7/23, 5/5/23 and 6/2/23. Cost is $150-$225.
Read MorePelham Together just learned about this incredible opportunity for rising college juniors and seniors interested in pursuing a career in public service. The application is due on March 22, 2003, so if you or anyone you know are interested, please pass this along.
Read MoreBelow are a collection of “copycat edibles” (there are more, this is just a selection from reliable sources). These are THC edibles created in packaging intended to look like regular snacks. People may not be able to tell the difference at a glance. It’s also very important to know that these items have high concentrations of THC, and may be laced with other substances, like fentanyl.
Read MoreWe recently watched this webinar hosted by KNOW2PREVENT, and found it to be very informative, in particular in it's balanced look at the issues. Please click through for a recording of the webinar, as well as the presentation slides. You can’t prevent what you don’t know. . .
Read MoreOn a very cold February 4th, Pelham got a little warmer by coming together at the Daronco Townhouse to celebrate who we are as a community with an evening showcasing our local musicians and local “chefs.” WinterFest 2023 featured all local bands and solo artists, mostly teens, with a few adult artists in the mix. There were some well established bands and some new talent, and even a trumpeter from Albania! Click to see more photos!
Read More
