More Safety Tips For Bronxville Residents: Mayor

Written by Mayor Mary Marvin:

Following on the heels of last week’s column the Police Chief has shared more tips on home and personal safety:

• Keep car and house keys on separate rings and unlabeled, so if lost, cars and homes are not vulnerable to theft.
• Medications and their doses, blood type and special medical conditions of each family member should be in an envelope on a bulletin board or affixed to the refrigerator so that if EMS is needed, the responders will immediately know your allergies or particular medical needs. These have proved to be lifesaving documents.
• When moving into a new dwelling, always have the locks re-keyed or changed.
• If living alone, only list your last name on the mailbox and in the telephone directory.
• Always ask for identification before allowing any service worker into your home. Unfortunately, uniforms of various companies are not that difficult to purchase to deceive a homeowner to gain entry.
• And finally, if you see or hear anything suspicious, do not hesitate to call the police and do so immediately. As trained professionals, let them make the final determination of the activity.
• Bike thefts also increase in the summer months so be sure to lock them as well as garage doors and not leave on the lawn.
• It is extremely helpful if you alert our Police Department to any particular needs of the home occupants — whether someone is hard of hearing, wheelchair bound or has emotional needs. Our Police Department can then tailor their response to one’s particular situation, resulting in a better response.

The summer weather also harkens the return of professional landscape gardeners and home gardeners working on yards throughout the Village.

On the municipal level, we continue to care for trees and open spaces by keeping them free of chemicals and pesticides. The lush lawn at Village Hall is a successful example of all organic care. Every leaf that fell in the fall was mulched back into the soil and we will do the same with the grass clippings. The grass will be kept at a length higher than normal (more than 3 inches). This facilitates stronger turf which is the best weed control, thus negating the need for pesticides which cling to shoes and animal feet.

If you choose not to use grass clippings for composting or mulching, we ask that you bag them for disposal this season. We can remove bags much more frequently, preventing the pungent smells emanating from the decomposing piles. Also after rainstorms, these piles end up clogging the sewers impeding needed drainage. The piles also contribute to slippery and narrow road surfaces creating a real danger for drivers and pedestrians. As a benefit, if grass clippings are bagged, twigs and yard waste may be comingled in the same bags.

In the same vein of eco-stewardship, the Village is also making a concerted effort to save water. Not only is it a finite resource, but the cost of water from our purveyor, Suez Water, is truly exorbitant.

Environmental experts recommend watering lawns only once a day in early morning when evaporation is at its lowest, thus maximizing the effectiveness of the water. Watering deeply into the soil early in the morning encourages deep root growth that is more drought resistant. In an additional effort to conserve water, make sure sprinklers are calibrated so water is never directed onto driveways or sidewalks.

The Village does have a law banning the use of gas-powered leaf blowers from June 1 to Oct. 31. The Village backs up this ban with enforcement and anyone using this equipment will receive an expensive summons. Kindly alert your gardeners as to the ban and if you see someone using the gas blowers, report it immediately to our police desk. Our police officers are also alert to this ban while on normal patrol.

Summer is also a good time for residents to check the conditions of their sidewalks and repair as needed.

Due to rapid plant growth in the summer months, please be mindful that trees and bushes must be trimmed to allow safe passage along sidewalks as well as to maintain visibility at intersections.

As a courtesy, if you plan any summer home improvements while you are away, please remember to alert your neighbors to your work schedule so they can adjust their outdoor plans if necessary.

Power outages also occur much more frequently during the summer due to the high energy drain of our air conditioners. Every household needs to report problems directly to Con Edison either by phone 1-800-75CONED or via the internet at www.coned.com. Their system does not have the capability of making assumptions that if one house has lost power, the neighboring houses have as well. Each home must be reported to maintain a tracking record. The Village also calls in outages if whole neighborhoods are affected or if Village-wide and alerts Con Edison to citizens with particular health needs that require priority service.

Our Village is particularly beautiful and peaceful in the summer months so it is an opportune time to enjoy our outdoor restaurants, catch a first-run movie or a summer sale at our Village businesses — all while finding a parking space!

Photo credit: Google Maps.