Good morning. ☕ This is your Thursday, March 26, Rye Record newsletter, curating some of the latest headlines across the city of Rye.

Today’s Weather Channel local forecast is cloudy with a high of 67 degrees ⛅ Check out the forecast for the rest of the week here.

“Your actions are concerning.” A former Rye Neck teacher accused in a lawsuit of sexually abusing a student had two previous drunk driving convictions and was questioned by school officials about other alleged “concerning” behavior, The Record has learned.

Joseph Perlman allegedly had several “inappropriate” communications with Rye Neck students dating back to 2006, according to reports of a Village of Mamaroneck police investigation that began after a student accused Perlman of sexual abuse during the 2018-19 school year.

Perlman was placed on administrative leave in November 2019 during that investigation. Months before, former schools Superintendent Barbara Ferraro had warned Perlman that “your actions are concerning to me” because of his continued failure to “maintain appropriate boundaries” with his students, according to Mamaroneck Police Department records obtained through a New York state Freedom of Information Law request.

The Rye Neck district hired Perlman in 2001, and he agreed to a “voluntary” resignation from the district in 2020, before Mamaroneck police had concluded their investigation into the sexual abuse claims. His resignation paperwork stipulated in part that both Perlman and the district agreed to the terms “solely to avoid the time, financial cost and uncertainties of litigation.”

Ultimately, Mamaroneck police found “no evidence … to corroborate any of the [sexual abuse] allegations against Mr. Perlman,” in 2021, according to police records. But the one-time Rye Neck teacher had a few unrelated convictions on his record before officials investigated those allegations.

Perlman was charged with driving while intoxicated in Mamaroneck in 2012 and again in Somers in 2016 — both while he was employed by the Rye Neck schools.

Perlman is currently employed as a math teacher in the Greenwich (Conn.) Public School District, though the district placed him on paid leave in December of 2025 after learning about the sexual abuse allegations in Westchester, said Jonathan Supranowitz, director of communications at the Greenwich schools.

To read Camille Botello’s report, click here.

-Today’s newsletter is curated by Chris Marshall

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IN OTHER NEWS

SHOCK & AWE. When a 2.3-magnitude earthquake shook the region this month, County Executive Ken Jenkins seized on it to challenge those advocating for the reopening of a nuclear plant near Peekskill. See what officials said before and after the quake. -Lilienne Shore Kilgore-Brown

COURAGEOUS ACTION. Max Levine, the eighth grader who reported swastika graffiti in a Rye Middle School bathroom, received high praise from the Rye Community Synagogue for calling out the disturbing act of hatred. -Kate Circelli

WHAT’S ON THE MENU? Following the most significant overhaul to school nutrition policy in more than a decade, the Rye Neck district is attempting to avoid drastic change by adjusting its cafeteria offerings in phases. -Laurie Mermet

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POLICE & FIRE

Disappearance of Rye Arts Center’s Rock Geodes Being Investigated

Four large rock geodes were stolen from Rye Arts Center over the weekend, marking the second robbery in two months from the geode garden located just outside of the center’s front door.

One geode was stolen in February, and security cameras were installed in an attempt to prevent additional thefts. However, the cameras weren’t working properly, allowing an unidentified culprit to take four more geodes sometime between 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Monday.

“Each one weighs over 100 pounds, so it’s possible there was more than one person,” said Justin Keeney, a Rye police detective.

-by Chris Marshall

SPORTS

Hoops Playoff Run Ends in State Semis for Stellar Senior Class

After a lights-out playoff run, the season came to an end for the Rye boys basketball team Saturday in a 63-54 Class AA state semifinal loss to Amsterdam.

Rye (21-6) was ahead 9-8 after one period, but the lead was gone midway through the second quarter, and sadly, never returned. The Garnets trailed by 12 at the half, 18 at the end of the third quarter, and by 21 with just under four minutes to play.  

It was not Rye’s day, but it was an unforgettable season capped by the team’s deepest playoff run since 1989.

“This season was a tremendously satisfying and gratifying journey for this team,” said Rye coach Tom Proudian. “We really got the most out of ourselves and went on a terrific run in the postseason. This whole thing could have ended a long time ago at several points, but these kids just kept playing and winning. What a group of kids this is.”

-by Steven Kearney

COMMUNITY

Meet the Greatest Generation’s Women From Rye

The stories of Rye women who served in World War II were hidden in family scrapbooks and newspaper archives until Chris Maloney brought them to light on his website.

Created for Women’s History Month, the page is part of Maloney’s larger project, RyeVets.org, which ultimately will include 2,100 biographies of all Rye veterans currently listed on the town’s WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam Honor Rolls.

For years, “I’d go to Memorial Day events where they read off a bunch of names of the guys who were killed,” Maloney said. “I’d ask, ‘Hey, does anybody know anything about them?’ and nobody did, so I took it upon myself [to find out].”

More than 1,450 Rye residents served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, and Women’s Army Corps during World War II.

-by Pam Janis